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Transcriptional silencing by polycomb-group proteins.

Type of publication Peer-reviewed
Publikationsform Review article (peer-reviewed)
Author Grossniklaus Ueli, Paro Renato,
Project The Genetic and Molecular Basis of Gametogenesis and Maternal Effects in Arabidopsis
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Review article (peer-reviewed)

Journal Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology
Volume (Issue) 6(11)
Page(s) 019331 - 019331
Title of proceedings Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology
DOI 10.1101/cshperspect.a019331

Open Access

Abstract

Polycomb-group (PcG) genes encode chromatin proteins involved in stable and heritable transcriptional silencing. PcG proteins participate in distinct multimeric complexes that deposit, or bind to, specific histone modifications (e.g., H3K27me3 and H2AK119ub1) to prevent gene activation and maintain repressed chromatin domains. PcG proteins are evolutionary conserved and play a role in processes ranging from vernalization and seed development in plants, over X-chromosome inactivation in mammals, to the maintenance of stem cell identity. PcG silencing is medically relevant as it is often observed in human disorders, including cancer, and tissue regeneration, which involve the reprogramming of PcG-controlled target genes.
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