Ankyrin: Owing to extensive intermolecular contacts, the ankyrin repeats of G9a and GLP and the BAH domain of ORC1 show high specificity for di- or monomethylated H3K9 and H4K20me2, respectively. The H3K9me2 peptide is sandwiched between the β-turns and α-helices of the fourth and fifth ankyrin repeats, whereas K9me2 fits into the aromatic cage also containing a glutamate. (1)
Reference
1. Musselman CA, Lalonde ME, Cote J, Kutateladze TG.Perceiving the epigenetic landscape through histone readers. Nat Struct Mol Biol.2012;19(12):1218-27. PMID: 23211769.
Chromo-Barrel: Chromo-Barrel, as the other member of the Royal family, shows some specificity, preferring tri- or dimethylated H3K36 and monomethylated H4K20 (H4K20me1); however, they bind rather weakly. (1)
Reference
1. Musselman CA, Lalonde ME, Cote J, Kutateladze TG.Perceiving the epigenetic landscape through histone readers. Nat Struct Mol Biol.2012;19(12):1218-27. PMID: 23211769.
PHD: Distinct from the Royal family is the PHD finger, a well-characterized reader of H3K4me3. It contains a C4HC3 motif that coordinates two zinc ions in a cross-brace manner. Such an arrangement produces a globular domain with a small β-sheet and an α-helix. PHD fingers make extensive contacts with H3K4me3, imparting a high degree of specificity. (1)
Reference
1. Musselman CA, Lalonde ME, Cote J, Kutateladze TG.Perceiving the epigenetic landscape through histone readers. Nat Struct Mol Biol.2012;19(12):1218-27. PMID: 23211769.
Tudor: Tudor can exist as a single domain or in tandem, containing two β-barrels. The single Tudor domains of PHF1 and PHF19 have been shown to recognize H3K36me3, whereas the canonical TTD of 53BP1 associates with H4K20me2, and the hybrid TTD of JMJD2A binds H3K4me3 and H4K20me3. (1)
Reference
1. Musselman CA, Lalonde ME, Cote J, Kutateladze TG.Perceiving the epigenetic landscape through histone readers. Nat Struct Mol Biol.2012;19(12):1218-27. PMID: 23211769.
