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Transcriptional regulation by Polycomb group proteins

Abstract

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are epigenetic regulators of transcription that have key roles in stem-cell identity, differentiation and disease. Mechanistically, they function within multiprotein complexes, called Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs), which modify histones (and other proteins) and silence target genes. The dynamics of PRC1 and PRC2 components has been the focus of recent research. Here we discuss our current knowledge of the PRC complexes, how they are targeted to chromatin and how the high diversity of the PcG proteins allows these complexes to influence cell identity.

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Figure 1: Composition and function of the main Polycomb complexes.
Figure 2: Role of PcG proteins in determination of stem-cell fate.
Figure 3: Polycomb-mediated gene repression is a multilayer process.
Figure 4: Targeting of PRCs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank V.A. Raker for help in preparing the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the Spanish 'Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia' (BFU2010-18692) to L.D.C.; from European Commission's 7th Framework Program 4DCellFate (grant number 277899) to L.D.C. and K.H.; and from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Danish Cancer Society and the Danish Council for Strategic Research (12-110503) to K.H.

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Di Croce, L., Helin, K. Transcriptional regulation by Polycomb group proteins. Nat Struct Mol Biol 20, 1147–1155 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.2669

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