Histone Cleavage as a Mechanism for Epigenetic Regulation: Current Insights and Perspectives

摘要: Discovered over a century ago, histones constitute one of the oldest families proteins and have been remarkably conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution. However, only for past 30 years have histones demonstrated that their influence extends far beyond packaging DNA. To create various chromatin structures are necessary DNA function in higher eukaryotes, undergo posttranslational modifications. While many such modifications well documented, others, as histone tail cleavage less understood. Recent studies have discovered several proteases cleave and have suggested roles clipped stem cell differentiation aging addition to infection and inflammation; underlying mechanisms, however, uncertain. One class particular, H3, has received outstanding interest due its numerous N-terminal modification sites prevalence in regulating homeostatic processes. Here, with special consideration H3, we will discuss novel findings regarding proteolytic cleavage significance immunology and epigenetics.