Cell. 2010 Oct 15;143(2):212-24. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.09.009. Epub 2010 Sep 30.

Systematic protein location mapping reveals five principal chromatin types in Drosophila cells.

Filion GJ, van Bemmel JG, Braunschweig U, Talhout W, Kind J, Ward LD, Brugman W, de Castro IJ, Kerkhoven RM, Bussemaker HJ, van Steensel B.

Source

Division of Gene Regulation, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Erratum in

Cell. 2011 Apr 1;145(1):160.

Abstract

Chromatin is important for the regulation of transcription and other functions, yet the diversity of chromatin composition and the distribution along chromosomes are still poorly characterized. By integrative analysis of genome-wide binding maps of 53 broadly selected chromatin components in Drosophila cells, we show that the genome is segmented into five principal chromatin types that are defined by unique yet overlapping combinations of proteins and form domains that can extend over > 100 kb. We identify a repressive chromatin type that covers about half of the genome and lacks classic heterochromatin markers. Furthermore, transcriptionally active euchromatin consists of two types that differ in molecular organization and H3K36 methylation and regulate distinct classes of genes. Finally, we provide evidence that the different chromatin types help to target DNA-binding factors to specific genomic regions. These results provide a global view of chromatin diversity and domain organization in a metazoan cell.

Comment in

Chromatin: Colour-coded classification. [Nat Rev Genet. 2010]
Chromatin: Colour-coded classification.Muers M. Nat Rev Genet. 2010 Nov; 11(11):745. Epub 2010 Oct 13.
Chromatin in multicolor. [Cell. 2010]
Chromatin in multicolor.Schübeler D. Cell. 2010 Oct 15; 143(2):183-4.