| Scientific Background: | Acetylation and methylation of lysine are important post-translational modifications that regulate numerous protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. Lysine acetylation and methylation involves the transfer of acetylCoA, or one or more methyl groups, to the e-amino group of lysine by modifying enzymes and cofactors. Histones and transcription factors are the primary targets of lysine acetylation and methylation, with either modification capable of inducing gene silencing or expression due to differential regulation of cofactors. For example, varying degrees of mono-, di-, and tri-methylation or acetylation of histone H3 at lysine residue 9 are known to demark distinct chromatin regions during various states of gene activation (methylation) or repression (acetylation). |
