Molecular biology of the chromo domain: an ancient chromatin module comes of age

The chromo domain motif is found in proteins from fungi, protists, plants, fish, insects, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The chromo domain peptide fo ld may have its origins as a chromosomal protein in a common ancestor of ar chea and eukaryota, making it a particularly ancient protein structural mod ule. Chromo domains have been found in single or multiple copies in protein s with diverse structures and activities, most or all of which are connecte d with chromosome structure/function. In this review, our current knowledge of chromo domain properties is summarized and a variety of contexts in whi ch chromo domains participate in aspects of chromatin metabolism are discus sed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.