Cited by 500Genomics and Chromatin DynamicsChromosomal and Genetic VariationsNuclear Structure and Function

Heterochromatin: Guardian of the Genome

Open access
Janssen, Aniek, Colmenares, Serafin U., Karpen, Gary H.·2018·Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology

Abstract

Constitutive heterochromatin is a major component of the eukaryotic nucleus and is essential for the maintenance of genome stability. Highly concentrated at pericentromeric and telomeric domains, heterochromatin is riddled with repetitive sequences and has evolved specific ways to compartmentalize, silence, and repair repeats. The delicate balance between heterochromatin epigenetic maintenance and cellular processes such as mitosis and DNA repair and replication reveals a highly dynamic and plastic chromatin domain that can be perturbed by multiple mechanisms, with far-reaching consequences for genome integrity. Indeed, heterochromatin dysfunction provokes genetic turmoil by inducing aberrant repeat repair, chromosome segregation errors, transposon activation, and replication stress and is strongly implicated in aging and tumorigenesis. Here, we summarize the general principles of heterochromatin structure and function, discuss the importance of its maintenance for genome integrity, and propose that more comprehensive analyses of heterochromatin roles in tumorigenesis will be integral to future innovations in cancer treatment.

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100617-062653

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  • Mammalian species utilize a variety of mechanisms to keep retrotransposon activation in check, including transcriptional repressors, chromatin-level repression, and posttranscriptional silencing via small RNAs.

    “Mammalian species utilize a variety of mechanisms to keep retrotransposon activation in check”

    From The Role of Retrotransposons and Endogenous Retroviruses in Age-Dependent Neurodegenerative Disorders (2024) · cites this paper as Janssen et al. 2018

    The LINE-1 silencing passage (p. 8.14) describes DNA methylation, Kap1, and H3K9me3 repressing mammalian retrotransposons, supporting the broad statement in the verbatim citing sentence. The expanded claim also specifies posttranscriptional silencing by small RNAs, which the cited passages do not establish for mammals; the Heterochromatin Establishment section says whether the RNAi-dependent mechanism it describes is conserved in mammals remains unresolved. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Authors
Janssen, A., Colmenares, S. U., & Karpen, G. H.
Affiliations
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
Karpen, Gary H.
Venue
Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
Published
2018-10-06
Volume
34
Issue
1
Pages
265-288
ISSN
  • 1081-0706 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-8995
OpenAlex
W2883831719
Cited by
500
References
173
Citations by year
2026: 59 · 2025: 64 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 64 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 85 · 2020: 63 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 4
FWCI
4.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM117420)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nuclear Structure and Function
Keywords
constitutive heterochromatin, genome stability, pericentromeric heterochromatin, telomeric heterochromatin, repetitive DNA, epigenetic silencing, chromosome segregation errors, transposon activation, replication stress, aging, carcinogenesis, cancer therapy
MeSH terms
Centromere, DNA Repair, Heterochromatin, Histones, Humans, Mitosis, Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid, Telomere, Genome, Chromosome Segregation, Genomic Instability

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