| Abstract: |
Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) are considered to constitute a layer of epigenetic information, which helps to organize the genome of eukaryotic cells at the chromatin level and directs the establishment and maintenance of particular cellular traits. Recent progress suggests that the “ON” or “OFF” states of chromatin are not simply determined by the readout of a single histone or epigenetic mark. In fact, histone modifications often exist in pairs or as a pattern to mediate particular downstream events. In accordance, the “reader” modules that usually recognize histone marks in a type- and site-specific way are often linked in tandem within one protein or coexist within a complex, suggesting the involvement of multivalent mechanisms for the decoding of histone modification patterns. Here, we summarize recent advances in histone recognition by tandem modules and its modulation by multiple PTMs from a structural perspective with implications on biological outcome. The molecular recognition events discussed here illustrate how chromatin regulators make use of paired or integrated “reader” modules to translate particular histone PTM signatures into specific biological outcomes. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015. |
