Although histone acetylation has historically been linked to transcription activation, recent
studies indicate that this modification and the enzymes that catalyze it have much broader
and diverse functions. Histone acetyltransferase complexes are involved in such diverse
processes as transcription activation, gene silencing, DNA repair and cell-cycle progression.
The high conservation of the acetyltransferase complexes and their functions illustrates their
central role in cell growth and development.