Histone acetylation is a crucial post-translational modification where an acetyl group is added to histone proteins. This process is mediated by enzymes known as histone acetyltransferases (HATs). The acetylation of histones typically results in an open chromatin structure, facilitating gene transcription. Conversely, histone deacetylases (HDACs) remove these acetyl groups, leading to chromatin condensation and transcriptional repression.
