Histone H3.Y (H3Y1)

Histone H3.Y is a primate-specific variant of histone H3, evolutionarily derived from H3.3, and is a core component of nucleosomes in chromatin[1][2][6]. H3.Y-containing nucleosomes preferentially accumulate around transcription start sites and are characterized by more flexible DNA ends and reduced binding of linker histone H1 compared to canonical H3.3, resulting in a potentially more relaxed chromatin structure that facilitates transcription factor access and gene expression regulation[1][2][6]. It is encoded by the H3Y1 gene (GeneCards ID: H3Y1, UniProtKB: P0DPK2, HGNC: 43735) and is localized to the nucleoplasm as part of the nucleosome complex[2][4][6]. H3.Y is not classified as a conventional therapeutic target, such as a receptor or enzyme, but rather as a structural protein involved in the regulation of chromatin and gene expression. Disease associations have been identified with certain muscular dystrophies[2]. No known drugs directly interact with histone H3.Y and it does not currently serve as a biomarker or direct therapeutic target.

Other names

H3.Y histone 1H3Y1H3.YH3.Y.1Histone H3.Y1H3 histone, family 3B (H3.3B) pseudogenehistone cluster 2, H3c pseudogene