Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The chromatin regulatory code: Beyond a histone code

  • Focus Point
  • Published:
The European Physical Journal E Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

In this commentary on the contribution by Arndt Benecke in this issue, I discuss why the notion of “chromatin code” introduced and elaborated in this paper is to be preferred to that of “histone code”. Speaking of a code as regards nucleosome conformation and histone tail post-translational modifications only makes sense within the chromatin fiber, where their physico-chemical features can be translated into regulatory programs at the genome level, by means of a complex, multi-level interplay with the fiber architecture and dynamics settled in the course of Evolution. In particular, this chromatin code presumably exploits allosteric transitions of the chromatin fiber. The chromatin structure dependence of its translation suggests two alternative modes of transcription initiation regulation, also proposed in the paper by A. Benecke in this issue for interpreting strikingly bimodal micro-array data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. T. Jenuwein, C.D. Allis, Science 293, 1074 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. A. Benecke, Chromatin code, local non-equilibrium dynamics, and the emergence of transcription regulatory programs, this issue, p. 353.

  3. A.P. Wolffe, Chromatin: Structure and Function (Academic Press, New York, 1998).

  4. A. Benecke, ComPlexUs 1, 65 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. M. Barbi, J. Mozziconacci, J.M. Victor, Phys. Rev. E 71, 031910 (2005).

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Lesne, J.-M. Victor, Chromatin fiber functional organization: Some plausible models, this issue, p. 279.

  7. J.M. Victor, E. Ben Haim, A. Lesne, Phys. Rev. E 66, 060901 (2002).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. F.M. Pohl, T.M. Jovin, J. Mol. Biol. 67, 375 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. J. Mozziconacci, C. Lavelle, M. Barbi, A. Lesne, J.M. Victor, FEBS Lett. 580, 368 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. S. Noth, A. Benecke, submitted to BMC Bioinformatics (2006).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée, Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques, Le Bois-Marie, 35 route de Chartres, 91440, Bures-sur-Yvette, France

    A. Lesne

  2. Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252, Paris, France

    A. Lesne

Authors
  1. A. Lesne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Lesne.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lesne, A. The chromatin regulatory code: Beyond a histone code. Eur. Phys. J. E 19, 375–377 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2005-10064-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2005-10064-0

PACS.

Search

Navigation