Histone acetylation and histone deacetylation involve the addition or removal of an acetyl group on lysine residues in the N-terminal tail and on the surface of the nucelosome core of histone proteins. Acetylated and deacetylated histones are considered epigenetic tags within chromatin by relaxing (euchromatin) or tightening (heterochromatin) chromatin structure, subsequently increasing or decreasing gene transcription levels.
What is Histone Acetylation?
Histone acetylation is the process of adding acetyl groups to specific lysine residues on histone proteins such as histone H3 and histone H4. This process is reversible and regulated by the balance between histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs).
What are HATs and HDACs?
Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are enzymes that add acetyl groups to histones, while histone...
Histone Acetyltransferases (HATs) and Their Role in Gene Expression
Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are enzymes that transfer acetyl groups from acetyl-coenzyme A to the lysine residues of histones. These enzymes play important roles in regulating gene expression by modifying the structure of chromatin, making it more accessible for transcription.
HATs and Transcription
HATs directly correspond to transcription by selectively acetylating the epsilon-amino grou...
Histone deacetylases (HDACs), also known as lysine deacetylases (KDACs), are a class of enzymes that remove acetyl groups from core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4), thereby regulating gene expression.
These epigenetic enzymes influence the structure of chromatin, the protein-DNA complex that forms into chromosomes residing in the nucleus. By removing an acetyl group, HDACs enable the tightening of the chromatin structure i...