Description
Product Characteristics:
HP1 alpha is a component of heterochromatin. It recognizes and binds histone H3 tails methylated at Lys-9, leading to epigenetic repression. HP1 alpha may interact with lamin B receptor (LBR). This interaction can contribute to the association of the heterochromatin with the inner nuclear membrane. HP1 proteins are relatively small proteins (~25 kDa) with a conserved amino-terminal chromo domain and a structurally related carboxy-terminal motif, the chromo shadow domain. Both domains of HP1 are required for binding to native chromatin in vivo, but they contribute differentially to binding in euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Synonyms: Heterochromatin protein 1, HP1, Non-histone chromosomal protein C1A9 antigen, CG8409
Target Information: This gene encodes a highly conserved nonhistone protein, which is a member of the heterochromatin protein family. The protein is enriched in the heterochromatin and associated with centromeres. The protein has a single N-terminal chromodomain which can bind to histone proteins via methylated lysine residues, and a C-terminal chromo shadow-domain (CSD) which is responsible for the homodimerization and interaction with a number of chromatin-associated nonhistone proteins. The encoded product is involved in the formation of functional kinetochore through interaction with essential kinetochore proteins. The gene has a pseudogene located on chromosome 3. Multiple alternatively spliced variants, encoding the same protein, have been identified. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]