Application of mass spectrometry to the identification and quantification of histone post-translational modifications

Abstract

The core histones are the primary protein component of chromatin, which is responsible for the packaging of eukaryotic DNA. The NH(2)-terminal tail domains of the core histones are the sites of numerous post-translational modifications that have been shown to play an important role in the regulation of chromatin structure. In this study, we discuss the recent application of modern analytical techniques to the study of histone modifications. Through the use of mass spectrometry, a large number of new sites of histone modification have been identified, many of which reside outside of the NH(2)-terminal tail domains. In addition, techniques have been developed that allow mass spectrometry to be effective for the quantitation of histone post-translational modifications. Hence, the use of mass spectrometry promises to dramatically alter our view of histone post-translational modifications.

Fig. 1

Localization of novel sites of histone modification identified by mass spectrometry on the nucleosome crystal structure. Each panel shows a front and side view of the nucleosome with novel sites of modification highlighted on one of the core histones [(A) H2A-orange, (B) H2B-red, (C) H3-blue, (D) H4-green]. Specific residues are indicated by numbers and arrows with sites of acetylation highlighted in blue, sites of methylation highlighted in red and sites of phosphorylation highlighted in green. Structures were generated using MOL-SCRIPT and RASTER 3D with atomic coordinates from PDB code 1ID3 [Kraulis, 1991; Merritt and David, 1997; White et al., 2001].

Fig. 1

Localization of novel sites of histone modification identified by mass spectrometry on the nucleosome crystal structure. Each panel shows a front and side view of the nucleosome with novel sites of modification highlighted on one of the core histones [(A) H2A-orange, (B) H2B-red, (C) H3-blue, (D) H4-green]. Specific residues are indicated by numbers and arrows with sites of acetylation highlighted in blue, sites of methylation highlighted in red and sites of phosphorylation highlighted in green. Structures were generated using MOL-SCRIPT and RASTER 3D with atomic coordinates from PDB code 1ID3 [Kraulis, 1991; Merritt and David, 1997; White et al., 2001].