Proteins in histone group might influence cancer development, study shows
Tuesday, September 3, 2013 - 20:50
in Biology & Nature
Spool-like proteins called histones play a crucial role in packaging the nearly seven feet of DNA found in most human cells. It has been thought that a particular group of histone isoforms were functionally identical. This study shows that these isoforms can have distinct functions, and that they might play a role in cancer development. The results provide a new mechanism for the regulation of chromatin structure.