What are Histone Modifications and their Significance in Toxicology?
Histones are proteins around which DNA is wound, and their modification can influence gene accessibility and expression. Chemical modifications such as acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation of histones have been found to be altered by exposure to toxicants. For example, benzo[a]pyrene, a component of tobacco smoke, can cause histone modifications that result in the activation of oncogenes and suppression of tumor suppressor genes, contributing to carcinogenesis.
