Chromosomes of a mouse one-cell embryo at anaphase of the first cleavage division stained for major (green) and minor (red) satellites sequences underlying pericentromeric and centromeric heterochromatin regions. The embryo is deficient for DAXX. In the upper right, one can see a broken mini-chromosome: its original long arm remained behind between the two large sets of chromosomes upon their movement to opposite poles.
Chromosomes of a mouse one-cell embryo at anaphase of the first cleavage division stained for major ( green ) and minor ( red ) satellites sequences underlying pericentromeric and centromeric heterochromatin regions. The embryo is deficient for DAXX. In the upper right, one can see a broken mini-chromosome: its original long arm remained behind between the two large sets of chromosomes upon their movement to opposite poles. The Peters group studies chromatin formation and regulation in mammalian germ cells and during early embryonic development. Now researchers from the group identified a novel pathway that is essential for maintaining the integrity of heterochromatin, and therefore for securing chromosome stability. Chromatin - made up of DNA wrapped up around histone proteins - plays a major role in gene regulation by modulating the accessibility of transcription factors to their target sequences in the genome. In eukaryotes, multiple chromatin-modifying proteins and pathways have evolved to control and fine-tune the level of chromatin accessibility versus compaction in order to safeguard genome integrity, define cell identity and guide development.
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