Multiple functions of dynamic histone acetylation

Besides its role in organizing nuclear DNA, the nuclear matrix is involved in specific nuclear functions, including replication, transcription, and RNA splicing. It is becoming increasingly evident that nuclear processes are localized to distinct regions in the nucleus. For example, transcriptionally active genes and RNA transcripts are found in discrete transcription foci. Current evidence suggests that nuclear matrix–bound transcriptionally active DNA sequences are in nucleosomes with dynamically acetylated histones. Histone acetylation, which precedes transcription, alters nucleosome and chromatin structure, decondensing the chromatin fibre and making the nucleosomal DNA accessible to transcription factors. Histone acetyltransferase and histone deacetylase, which catalyze this rapid acetylation and deacetylation, are associated with the internal nuclear matrix. We hypothesize that these enzymes play a role in maintaining the association of the active chromatin domains with the internal nuclear matrix at sites of ongoing transcription. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.