Structure and function of bromodomains in chromatin-regulating complexes

Specific changes in chromatin structure are associated with transcriptional regulation. These chromatin alterations include both covalent modification s of the amino termini of histones as well as ATP-dependent non-covalent re modeling of nucleosomes. Certain protein domains, such as the bromodomains, are commonly associated with both of these classes of enzymes that alter c hromatin. This review discusses recent advances in understanding the struct ure and function of bromodomains. Most significantly, a role of bromodomain s has been revealed in binding to acetylated lysine residues in histone tai ls. Interactions between bromodomains and modified histones may be an impor tant mechanism underlying chromatin structural changes and gene regulation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.