The HP1 protein family: getting a grip on chromatin

HP1 was first described in Drosophila as a heterochromatin-associated protein with dosage-dependent effects on heterochromatin-induced gene silencing, Recently, membership of the HP1 protein family has expanded tremendously. A number of intriguing interactions between HP1 and other proteins have been described, implicating HP1 in gene regulation, DNA replication, and nuclear architecture.