imported>Ldominguez at 08:49, 21 April 2010

2010-04-21T08:49:28Z

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The chromatin organization modifier (chromodomain) is a protein domain of 40-50 amino acids involved in chromatin remodeling and regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes ([[Literature:39429|Koonin, Zhou and Lucchesi 1995]]; [[Literature:11540|Cavalli and Paro 1998]]). Examples of chromodomains are for instance, the ''Drosophila melanogaster'' Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1), the Histone acetyltransferase MOF, the protein Polycomb (PC), and the Suppressor of variegation (Suvar).

[[Image:Chromodomain.png|center]]

Chromodomains have been identified in a variety of proteins that play a role in chromatin modification, including factors that activate and repress transcription. Several studies have demonstrated that chromodomains are responsible for chromatin targeting and for interactions between different proteins as a stand-alone protein interaction module ([[Literature:15254|Cowell and Austin 1997]]; [[Literature:72908|Strutt and Paro 1997]]; [[Literature:41065|Lachner ''et al.'' 2001]], as a RNA-binding module ([[Literature:797|Akhtar ''et al.'' 2000]]), and most recently, as a DNA-binding module ([[Literature:8006|Bouazoune ''et al.'' 2002]]). Accounting that the chromodomain confers binding specificity to chromatin, these functions may in fact be interdependent ([[Literature:37200|Kelley ''et al.'' 1999]]). Also, a second chromodomain motif termed chromoshadow domain has been described at the C-terminal end of several chromodomain-containing proteins such as HP1 ([[Literature:43|Aasland and Stewart 1995]]).

[[Image:Chromoshadow.png|center]]

[[Category:Retroelements]]

Eukaryotic chromodomains - Revision history

imported>Ldominguez at 08:49, 21 April 2010