Wang Yu-Feng, Du Xin-Zheng
College of Life Science, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
Yi Chuan. 2005 Nov;27(6):989-94.
HIR/HIRA, one of the histone chaperones, encoded by Hir/Hira (histone regulation) genes, were initially identified in yeast as negative regulators of histone gene expression. It has been confirmed that HIRA contains a conserved family of proteins found in various species including low eukaryotes, invertebrates and vertebrates. It is essential for proper development. Mutations of Hir/Hira genes result in very serious defects in normal development not only in yeast but also in advanced eukaryotes. Combined with the work in our group, the roles of Hir/Hira genes in the development in different species are reviewed, and the recent advances concerning the mechanisms of HIRA functioning are also summarized in an attempt to promote the research further on the exact roles of hira genes in development of eukaryotes and on their deeply operating mechanisms.
HIR/HIRA是一种由Hir/Hira（组蛋白调控）基因编码的组蛋白伴侣，最初在酵母中被鉴定为组蛋白基因表达的负调控因子。现已证实，HIRA包含一个在包括低等真核生物、无脊椎动物和脊椎动物在内的各种物种中都存在的保守蛋白家族。它对正常发育至关重要。Hir/Hira基因的突变不仅在酵母中，而且在高等真核生物中都会导致正常发育出现非常严重的缺陷。结合我们小组的工作，综述了Hir/Hira基因在不同物种发育中的作用，并总结了HIRA功能机制的最新进展，以期进一步推动关于hira基因在真核生物发育中的确切作用及其深入作用机制的研究。
