Chromatin crosstalk in development and disease: lessons from REST

Authors

Lezanne Ooi, University of WollongongFollow
Ian Wood, University of LeedsFollow

RIS ID

60994

Publication Details

Ooi, L. & Wood, I. (2007). Chromatin crosstalk in development and disease: lessons from REST. Nature Reviews: Genetics, 8 (7), 544-554.

Abstract

Protein complexes that contain chromatin-modifying enzymes have an important role in regulating gene expression. Recent studies have shown that a single transcription factor, the repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST), can act as a hub for the recruitment of multiple chromatin-modifying enzymes, uncovering interdependencies among individual enzymes that affect gene regulation. Research into the function of REST and its corepressors has provided novel insight into how chromatin-modifying proteins cooperate, and how alterations in this function cause disease. These mechanisms will be relevant to the combinatorial functioning of modular transcriptional regulators that work together to regulate a common promoter; they should also identify targets for potential therapies for a range of human diseases.