Epigenetics

Histones are the main protein component of chromatin and are essential for the storage and compaction of the genome. DNA wraps around histone oligomers to make up nucleosomes, the individual subunits of chromatin. By altering the accessibility of the genome, chromatin structure is important for regulating various cellular processes including replication, transcription, and DNA repair. Typically chromatin structure is influenced by post-translational modification of histone proteins at lysine and arginine residues.

Eukaryotic chromosomes are formed through the highly organized and structural wrapping of DNA genetic material around histone proteins into the classic "bead on a string" globular structure of nucleosomes. The histone family consists of five family members - histone H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4.

Histone modification is known to affect transcriptional access to chromatin. Therefore, high quality histone modification specific antibodies are necessary to understand and explain the specific roles that these epigenetic modifications play in transcription regulation. Unfortunately, many of the commercially available histone modification antibodies are designed against short immunizing peptides and lack specificity to the full-length modified histone.