Viral gene expression can be regulated by chromatin methylation and demethylation. Thomas Kristie and his colleagues have identified a histone demethylase that is required to remove repressive methylation from the immediate early promoters of two α-herpesviruses. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, which block this demethylase, prevented lytic replication and reactivation from latency.
- Yu Liang
- Jodi L Vogel
- Thomas M Kristie