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Dynamics of Histone Lysine Methylation: Structures of Methyl Writers and Erasers

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Epigenetics and Disease

Part of the book series: Progress in Drug Research ((PDR,volume 67))

Abstract

In Eukarya, the packaging of DNA into chromatin provides a barrier that allows for regulation of access to the genome. Chromatin is refractory to processes acting on DNA. ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling machines and histone-modifying complexes can overcome this barrier (or strengthen it in silencing processes). Both components of chromatin (DNA and histones) are subject to postsynthetic covalent modifications, including methylation of lysines (the focus of this chapter). These lysine marks are generated by a host of histone lysine methyltransferases (writers) and can be removed by histone lysine demethylases (erasers). Importantly, epigenetic modifications impact chromatin structure directly or can be read by effector regulatory modules. Here, we summarize current knowledge on structural and functional properties of various histone lysine methyltransfereases and demethylases, with emphasis on their importance as druggable targets.

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Acknowledgments

The work in the Cheng laboratory was supported by grants GM06860 and DK082678 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). X.C. is a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA

    Anup K. Upadhyay & Xiaodong Cheng

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  1. Anup K. Upadhyay
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  2. Xiaodong Cheng
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  1. for Biomedical Research, Part of the Novartis Research Foundation, Friedrich Miescher Institute, Maulbeerstrasse 66, Basel, 4058, Switzerland

    Susan M. Gasser

  2. BioMedical Research Co., Ltd., China Novartis Institutes for, Lane 898 Halei Road, Shanghai, 201203, China, People's Republic

    En Li

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© 2011 Springer Basel AG

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Upadhyay, A.K., Cheng, X. (2011). Dynamics of Histone Lysine Methylation: Structures of Methyl Writers and Erasers. In: Gasser, S., Li, E. (eds) Epigenetics and Disease. Progress in Drug Research, vol 67. Springer, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8989-5_6

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