Histone modifications and apoptosis: cause or consequence?

Since the first description of apoptosis, genetic and biochemical studies have led to a greater understanding of the multiple pathways that eukaryotic cells can take to terminate their existence. These findings have also proven useful in understanding the development of various diseases such as AIDS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's and have provided potential targets for possible therapies. Despite all these studies, the mechanism of chromatin condensation, a morphological hallmark of apoptosis, remains elusive. This review describes the work to date on the post-translational modifications of histones during apoptosis and discusses the models that have been presented to explain the apoptotic condensation of chromatin.