The contradictory definitions of heterochromatin: transcription and silencing

Authors

Kathryn Huisinga, Washington University in St. Louis
Brent Brower-Toland, Washington University in St. Louis
Sarah C.R. Elgin, Washington University in St. LouisFollow

Author's School

Arts & Sciences

Author's Department

Biology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2006

Originally Published In

Huisinga KL, Brower-Toland B, Elgin SC. The contradictory definitions of heterochromatin: transcription and silencing. Chromosoma. 2006;115(2):110–122. doi:10.1007/s00412-006-0052-x

Abstract

Eukaryotic genomes are packaged in two general varieties of chromatin: gene-rich euchromatin and gene-poor heterochromatin. Each type of chromatin has been defined by the presence of distinct chromosomal proteins and posttranslational histone modifications. This review addresses recent findings that appear to blur the definitions of euchromatin and heterochromatin by pointing to the presence of typically heterochromatic modifications (including H3K9me) in euchromatin and typically euchromatic enzymes (including RNA polymerases) in heterochromatin. We discuss the implications of these new findings for the current definition of heterochromatin.

Comments

© Springer-Verlag 2006

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5176-2510 [Elgin]

Recommended Citation

Huisinga, Kathryn; Brower-Toland, Brent; and Elgin, Sarah C.R., "The contradictory definitions of heterochromatin: transcription and silencing" (2006). Biology Faculty Publications & Presentations. 201.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/bio_facpubs/201