Histone modifications during DNA replication

Abstract

Faithful and accurate replication of the DNA molecule is essential for eukaryote organisms. Nonetheless, in the last few years it has become evident that inheritance of the chromatin states associated with different regions of the genome is as important as the faithful inheritance of the DNA sequence itself. Such chromatin states are determined by a multitude of factors that act to modify not only the DNA molecule, but also the histone proteins associated with it. For instance, histones can be posttranslationally modified, and it is well established that these posttranslational marks are involved in several essential nuclear processes such as transcription and DNA repair. However, recent evidence indicates that posttranslational modifications of histones might be relevant during DNA replication. Hence, the aim of this review is to describe the most recent publications related to the role of histone posttranslational modifications during DNA replication.