Abstract
Histone methylation is important in modulating the accessibility of transcription factors to target genes and the subsequent changes in transcription. The site-specific methylation and demethylation of histone residues are catalyzed by methyltransferases and demethylases, respectively. In general, transcriptional activation marks increase the permissibility of gene transcription, whereas transcriptional silencing marks promote heterochromatin formation. These processes are tightly regulated by methyltransferases and demethylases. Human diseases and toxicological responses from exposure to environmental chemicals are associated with aberrant histone methylation patterns and increased risks of adverse effects. In this chapter, we will introduce various histone methylation marks and their functions on gene transcription, writers and erasers that regulate specific sites of histone methylation patterns, cofactors and other regulators, and human diseases and environmental chemicals associated with dysregulation of histone methylation.
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