Centromeric Histone H4 Acetylation in Hordeum vulgare

摘要

Histone acetylation is a post-translational modification of lysine residues in the N-terminal regions of nucleosomal histones. In this study, structural significance of histone H4 acetylation was revealed in Hordeum vulgare by using a three-dimensional imaging method. The centromeres were clustered near the nuclear membrane at one pole of a nucleus. A ring-like distribution of the highly acetylated histone H4 at lysine 5 in non-fixed nuclei, which is very similar to the centromere cluster, was visualized. The centromeres and the highly acetylated regions were co-localized, however, the signals did not completely overlap with each other. During the mitotic stage, when large-scale changes in chromosome structure occurred, the centromeric acetylation of K5 changed dramatically. These findings suggest that the highly acetylated lysine residues of histone H4 is related to the structural changes of barley centromeres.