fig1

Figure 1. Acetylation or deacetylation of histone lysine residues is catalysed by HATs and HDACs, respectively. Lysine acetylation is connected to loosening of the chromatin structure. This change enables DNA binding and eventually leads to activation of gene transcription. In contrast, deacetylation closes the chromatin structure and represses gene transcription. HATs: histone acetyltransferases; HDACs: histone deacetylases