Ahmad et al. show that soluble histone H4 binds at histone genes and acts as a repressor of their expression. These findings suggest that histone H4 is a sensor of ongoing DNA replication. Ongoing chromatin assembly uses up soluble H4 and relieves histone gene repression; however, once DNA replication ceases, soluble H4 accumulates and represses the histone genes.
- Kami Ahmad
- Matt Wooten
- Steven Henikoff