Histone and Chromatin Dynamics Facilitating DNA repair. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Our nuclear genomes are complexed with histone proteins to form nucleosomes, the repeating units of chromatin which function to package and limit unscheduled access to the genome. In response to helix-distorting DNA lesions and DNA double-strand breaks, chromatin is disassembled around the DNA lesion to facilitate DNA repair and it is reassembled after repair is complete to reestablish the epigenetic landscape and regulating access to the genome. DNA damage also triggers decondensation of the local chromatin structure, incorporation of histone variants and dramatic transient increases in chromatin mobility to facilitate the homology search during homologous recombination. Here we review the current state of knowledge of these changes in histone and chromatin dynamics in response to DNA damage, the molecular mechanisms mediating these dynamics, as well as their functional contributions to the maintenance of genome integrity to prevent human diseases including cancer.

publication date

  • August 13, 2021

Research

keywords

  • Histones

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC9733910

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85113239014

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1146/annurev-biochem-060713-035536

PubMed ID

  • 34419698

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 107