# The Role of Histone Chaperones in Histone Acetylation and Nucleosome Dynamics

> **NIH NIH R01** · RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR · 2021 · $10,158

## Abstract

Project Summary
There is a fundamental paradox within the nucleus of every eukaryotic cell: The genetic material must be
organized and compacted yet remain accessible for readout by transcription machinery. Two of the many factors
that retain this balance are histones and histone binding proteins. Histones are ultimately responsible for
compacting the chromosomal DNA almost 500,000-fold to fit into the nucleus. While genome accessibility is
regulated in part by the actions of histone acetyltransferases (KATs), histone chaperones interact directly with
histones and can assemble and/or disassemble them on DNA. KATs covalently modify the histones and
therefore, have the potential to alter chromatin structure. Exciting new evidence structurally and functionally link
KATs and histone chaperones. However, virtually nothing is known about the mechanisms by which these
proteins cooperate to manage compaction and genome accessibility. We have demonstrated the ability of
histone chaperones (Asf1), to recognize the acetylation state of histones and work together to modify the
specificity of KATs. We are proposing that these chaperones function to maintain the proper acetyl-profiles of
chromatin by regulating both which lysines get acetylated and their incorporation in to chromatin. A biochemical
and molecular understanding of how specificity and selectivity is achieved is currently a major challenge in the
chromatin field. This project will employ and expand on new methodologies for studying complex protein-protein
networks needed to regulate chromatin dynamics and post-translational specificity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10393781
- **Project number:** 3R01GM102503-06S1
- **Recipient organization:** RESEARCH INST OF FOX CHASE CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrew Joseph Andrews
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $10,158
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2014-09-15 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10393781

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10393781, The Role of Histone Chaperones in Histone Acetylation and Nucleosome Dynamics (3R01GM102503-06S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-05 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10393781. Licensed CC0.

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