A mutation that resulted in the loss of histone deacetylation activity in a eukaryotic cell line would be expected to have what effect on transcription?
A) conversion of activators into repressors
B) conversion of repressors into activators
C) enhanced rate of transcription
D) no effect
E) reduced rate of transcription

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Histone deacetylation typically represses transcription by making chromatin more compact. Loss of this activity would lead to a more open chromatin structure, enhancing transcription.  Histone deacetylases are responsible for changing the state of histone acetylation. The consequences of reduced histone acetylation are altered chromatin structure, making it difficult for the transcriptional machinery to engage the DNA. Thus, histone deacetylation is most often associated with reduced capacity for transcription initiation.

A Mutation That Resulted in the Loss of Histone Deacetylation