How Does Histone Acetylation Affect Chromatin Structure?
Histones are proteins that help package DNA into nucleosomes, forming a compact structure called chromatin. When histones are acetylated, the positive charge on lysine residues is neutralized, reducing the interaction between histones and DNA. This relaxation of chromatin structure, often referred to as chromatin remodeling, makes DNA more accessible to transcription factors and other regulatory proteins, thereby promoting gene expression.
