Histone Cluster 1, H4a (HIST1H4A)

Acetylation of histone H4 on lysine-16 (H4-K16Ac) is a prevalent and reversible posttranslational chromatin modification in eukaryotes. Shogren-Knaak et al. (2006) used a native chemical ligation strategy to generate histone H4 that was homogeneously acetylated at K16. The incorporation of this modified histone into nucleosomal arrays inhibited the formation of compact 30-nanometer-like fibers and impeded the ability of chromatin to form cross-fiber interactions. H4-K16Ac also inhibited the ability of the adenosine triphosphate-utilizing chromatin assembly and remodeling enzyme ACF to mobilize a mononucleosome, indicating that this single histone modification modulates both higher order chromatin structure and functional interactions between a nonhistone protein and the chromatin fiber.