Transcriptional and epigenetic functions of histone variant H2A.ZThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in this Special Issue, entitled CSBMCB’s 51st Annual Meeting – Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics, and has undergone the Journal’s usual peer review process.

Abstract

The chromatin organization of a genome ultimately dictates the gene expression profile of the cell. It is now well recognized that key mechanisms that regulate chromatin structure include post-translational modifications of histones and the incorporation of histone variants at strategic sites within the genome. H2A.Z is a variant of H2A that is localized to the 5′ end of many genes and is required for proper regulation of gene expression. However, its precise function in the transcription process is not yet well defined. In this review, we discuss some of the recent findings related to this histone variant, how it associates with other histone epigenetic marks, and how post-translational modifications of H2A.Z further define its function.