ACETYLATION AND METHYLATION OF HISTONES H3 AND H4 IN CHICKEN IMMATURE ERYTHROCYTES ARE NOT DIRECTLY COUPLED

The relationship between histone methylation and dynamic histone acetylation was investigated. Previously, we demonstrated in chicken erythrocytes that dynamically acetylated histones H3 and H4 of transcriptionally active gene chromatin were selectively methylated. However, methylation of these histories was not dependent upon their acetylated states. Here, we tested the hypothesis that methylation tags these histones for participation in dynamic acetylation. Using an inhibitor of protein methylation, adenosine dialdehyde, we show that the processes of histone methylation and dynamic acetylation are not directly coupled. Our results suggest that the selective methylation of dynamically acetylated chromatin reflects features of the organization of transcriptionally active gene chromatin. © 1992 Academic Press, Inc.