Torcal Garcia, Guillem, 1991-Graf, T. (Thomas)2021-07-142021Torcal Garcia G, Graf T. The transcription factor code: a beacon for histone methyltransferase docking. Trends Cell Biol. 2021 Oct;31(10):792-800. DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2021.04.0010962-8924http://hdl.handle.net/10230/48177Histone methylation is required for the establishment and maintenance of gene expression patterns that determine cellular identity, and its perturbation often leads to aberrant development and disease. Recruitment of histone methyltransferases (HMTs) to gene regulatory elements (GREs) of developmental genes is important for the correct activation and silencing of these genes, but the drivers of this recruitment are largely unknown. Here we propose that lineage-instructive transcription factors (Lin-TFs) act as general recruiters of HMT complexes to cell type-specific GREs through protein-protein interactions. We also postulate that the specificity of these interactions is dictated by Lin-TF post-translational modifications (PTMs), which act as a 'transcription factor code' that can determine the directionality of cell fate decisions during differentiation and development.application/pdfeng© Elsevier http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2021.04.001info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2021.04.001Gene regulationHistone methylationHistone methyltransferasePost-translational modificationTranscription factorinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess