组蛋白是染色质的主要成分之一, 其氨基端的氨基酸残基可以被共价修饰, 进而改变染色质构型, 导致转录激活或基因沉默。组蛋白修饰除了简单地调控基因表达, 更在于它可以招募蛋白复合体, 影响下游蛋白, 从而参与细胞分裂、细胞凋亡和记忆形成, 甚至影响免疫系统和炎症反应等。不仅如此, 最近的研究表明, 组蛋白修饰与CTD密码、生物节律、DNA修复之间也存在一定的联系。这些发现证明了组蛋白修饰的重要性。在组蛋白的密码形成与密码破译、修饰级联与招募蛋白质过程中, 蛋白复合体的特殊结构域起到的中介作用都是无法替代的。因此, 这些特殊结构域将是了解“组蛋白密码”的关键。目前质谱分析等技术的广泛应用, 正使得许多新的结构域不断被发现。文章旨在对组蛋白密码的基本内容作一述评, 同时对可能的研究热点进行展望。
Histone is one of critical components of chromatin, which amino acid residues at the N-terminus can be covalently modified. Histone modification (HM) can change the chromatin conformation and induce transcription or gene silencing. Not only can HM control gene expression, but also participate in cell division, cell apoptosis and memory formation by recruiting protein complex and affecting downstream proteins. HM can also have the impact on immune system and inflammatory reaction. In addition, lots of recent studies have indicated that histone code (or HM) is related to the CTD code, circadian clock and DNA repair, implying the significance of HM. The domains of protein complex can never be replaced, because they play a mediating role during the formation and deciphering of histone code, as well as the modification cascade and the recruitment of protein complex. Therefore, these domains are very important to comprehend the histone code. Because of the widespread use of analytical techniques, such as mass-spectrometry, new domains will be discovered. Herein, our review focuses on the basic concept, recent progress and hot points of the histone code study.
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