Review article2010Peer reviewedOpen access
Antagonizing Polycomb group-mediated gene repression by chromatin remodelers
Koehler, Claudia; Aichinger, Ernst
Abstract
Cellular identity is maintained by epigenetic processes that prevent changes of cell-type specific transcriptional programs. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are evolutionary conserved key players of cellular identity that repress central developmental regulators by modifying chromatin structure. PcG-mediated repression is antagonized by trithorax group (trxG) proteins that prevent inappropriate repression by PcG proteins. The molecular basis for this antagonistic activity is unclear. So far, only few chromatin regulatory proteins have been associated with trxG function in Arabidopsis. Recent work revealed that ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factors of the Chromodomain-Helicase-DNA- binding (CHD) subfamily have trxG-like functions in Arabidopsis. Here we will discuss the implications of these findings that point towards an evolutionary conservation of PcG/trxG mediated gene regulation in higher eukaryotes.
Keywords
chromatin remodelers; CHD3/CHD4; PICKLE; KISMET; polycomb group genes
Published in
Epigenetics
2010, Volume: 5, number: 1, pages: 20-23
Publisher: LANDES BIOSCIENCE
UKÄ Subject classification
Genetics
Publication identifier
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4161/epi.5.1.10559
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/84945