Histone H4 is one of the 5 main histone

Histone

In biology, histones are highly alkaline proteins found in eukaryotic cell nuclei that package and order the DNA into structural units called nucleosomes. They are the chief protein components of chromatin, acting as spools around which DNA winds, and play a role in gene regulation...

 protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

s involved in the structure of chromatin

Chromatin

Chromatin is the combination of DNA and proteins that make up the contents of the nucleus of a cell. The primary functions of chromatin are; to package DNA into a smaller volume to fit in the cell, to strengthen the DNA to allow mitosis and meiosis and prevent DNA damage, and to control gene...

 in eukaryotic cells. Featuring a main globular domain and a long N terminal tail, H4 is a structural component of the nucleosome

Nucleosome

Nucleosomes are the basic unit of DNA packaging in eukaryotes, consisting of a segment of DNA wound around a histone protein core. This structure is often compared to thread wrapped around a spool....

, and is subject to covalent modification, including acetylation

Acetylation

Acetylation describes a reaction that introduces an acetyl functional group into a chemical compound...

 and methylation

Methylation

In the chemical sciences, methylation denotes the addition of a methyl group to a substrate or the substitution of an atom or group by a methyl group. Methylation is a form of alkylation with, to be specific, a methyl group, rather than a larger carbon chain, replacing a hydrogen atom...

, which may alter expression of genes located on DNA associated with its parent histone octamer.

Genetics

Histone H4 is encoded in multiple genes at different loci including:
HIST1H4A

HIST1H4A

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4A gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST1H4B

HIST1H4B

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4B gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST1H4C

HIST1H4C

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4C gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST1H4D

HIST1H4D

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4D gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST1H4E

HIST1H4E

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4E gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST1H4F

HIST1H4F

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4F gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST1H4H

HIST1H4H

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4H gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST1H4I

HIST1H4I

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4I gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST1H4J, HIST1H4K

HIST1H4K

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4K gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST1H4L

HIST1H4L

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST1H4L gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST2H4A

HIST2H4A

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST2H4A gene.-Further reading:...

, HIST2H4B, HIST4H4

HIST4H4

Histone H4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HIST4H4 gene.-Further reading:...

, Hip

See also

• nucleosome
  Nucleosome
  Nucleosomes are the basic unit of DNA packaging in eukaryotes, consisting of a segment of DNA wound around a histone protein core. This structure is often compared to thread wrapped around a spool....
  
  
• histone
  Histone
  In biology, histones are highly alkaline proteins found in eukaryotic cell nuclei that package and order the DNA into structural units called nucleosomes. They are the chief protein components of chromatin, acting as spools around which DNA winds, and play a role in gene regulation...
  
  
• chromatin
  Chromatin
  Chromatin is the combination of DNA and proteins that make up the contents of the nucleus of a cell. The primary functions of chromatin are; to package DNA into a smaller volume to fit in the cell, to strengthen the DNA to allow mitosis and meiosis and prevent DNA damage, and to control gene...
  
  
• Other histone
  Histone
  In biology, histones are highly alkaline proteins found in eukaryotic cell nuclei that package and order the DNA into structural units called nucleosomes. They are the chief protein components of chromatin, acting as spools around which DNA winds, and play a role in gene regulation...
  
   proteins involved in chromatin:
• H1
  Histone H1
  Histone H1 is one of the five main histone protein families which are components of chromatin in eukaryotic cells. Though highly conserved, it is nevertheless the most variable histone in sequence across species.- Structure :...
  
  
• H2A
  Histone H2A
  Histone H2A is one of the 5 main histone proteins involved in the structure of chromatin in eukaryotic cells. Featuring a main globular domain and a long N terminal tail, H2A is involved with the structure of the nucleosomes of the 'beads on a string' structure.Other histone proteins...
  
  
• H2B
  Histone H2B
  Histone H2B is one of the 5 main histone proteins involved in the structure of chromatin in eukaryotic cells. Featuring a main globular domain and a long N terminal tail H2B is involved with the structure of the nucleosomes of the 'beads on a string' structure.See nucleosome, histone and...
  
  
• H3
  Histone H3
  Histone H3 is one of the five main histone proteins involved in the structure of chromatin in eukaryotic cells. Featuring a main globular domain and a long N-terminal tail, H3 is involved with the structure of the nucleosomes of the 'beads on a string' structure...