Chromatin remodelling

Chromatin Remodelling is a biological process that involves the structural alteration of chromatin to allow access of condensed genomic DNA to the regulatory transcription machinery proteins, and thereby control gene expression. This process is critical for the cellular functions such as DNA replication, DNA repair and gene transcription.

Overview

Chromatin remodelling is one of the principal mechanisms implicated in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. The structure of chromatin, which is a complex of DNA and protein, can be modified by several mechanisms, including post-translational modification of histone proteins, DNA methylation, and ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling.

ATP-dependent Chromatin Remodelling

ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complexes use the energy from ATP hydrolysis to alter the structure of chromatin. These complexes are multi-protein machines that can slide, eject or restructure nucleosomes, the basic units of chromatin, to expose DNA binding sites to the regulatory proteins.

Chromatin Remodelling Complexes

There are four main families of chromatin remodelling complexes: SWI/SNF, ISWI, CHD, and INO80. Each of these families has distinct features and functions, but all are involved in the regulation of gene expression through chromatin remodelling.

Role in Disease

Abnormalities in chromatin remodelling have been linked to a number of diseases, including cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, and ageing. Understanding the mechanisms of chromatin remodelling can therefore provide insights into the pathogenesis of these diseases and potential therapeutic strategies.

See Also

• Epigenetics
• Histone modification
• DNA methylation