1. Chromatin status is influenced by DNA methylation and histone acetylation
Chromatin status is influenced by DNA methylation and histone acetylation In active chromatin the N-terminal tails of histone proteins are acetylated (by HATs); the additional positive charges encourage a looser packing of nucleosomes that makes the DNA more accessible for other proteins and thus facilitates transcription. Addition of methyl groups to the CG dinucleotides (by DNMTs) and removal of the acetyl groups from the histones (by HDACs) provokes a more compact chromatin structure, which is not easily accessible by transcription factors, generating inactive chromatin. Reactivation of inactive chromatin is facilitated by DNA demethylases (which remove the methyl groups) and HATs.
Maria Jackson et al. Essays Biochem. 2018;62:
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