Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Histone acetyltransferase enzymes (HATs) are implicated in regulation of transcription. HATs from different families may overlap in target and substrate specificity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We isolated the <it>elp3</it><sup>+ </sup>gene encoding the histone acetyltransferase subunit of the Elongator complex in fission yeast and characterized the phenotype of an Δ<it>elp3 </it>mutant. We examined genetic interactions between Δ<it>elp3 </it>and two other HAT mutants, Δ<it>mst2 </it>and Δ<it>gcn5 </it>and used whole genome microarray analysis to analyze their effects on gene expression.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Comparison of phenotypes and expression profiles in single, double and triple mutants indicate that these HAT enzymes have overlapping functions. Consistent with this, overlapping specificity in histone H3 acetylation is observed. However, there is no evidence for overlap with another HAT enzyme, encoded by the essential <it>mst1</it><sup>+ </sup>gene.</p>
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