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Nature Cell Biology 9, 19 - 20 (2007)
doi:10.1038/ncb0107-19

Heterochromatin: condense or excise

Craig Pikaard1 & Olga Pontes1

  1. Craig Pikaard and Olga Pontes are in the Biology Department, Washington University, Campus Box 1137, One Brookings Drive, St Louis, MO 63130. USA. e-mail: pikaard@biology.wustl.edu


In eukaryotes, condensing chromosomal DNA into heterochromatin is important for gene silencing and proper chromosome segregation. A recent study suggests a function for heterochromatin in protecting highly repeated genes and satellite DNA against excision caused by recombination or by joining of free DNA ends following DNA damage.

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