Histone variants regulate chromatin accessibility and gene transcription. Given their distinct properties and functions, histone variant substitutions allow for profound alteration of nucleosomal architecture and local chromatin landscape. Skeletal myogenesis driven by the key transcription factor MyoD is characterized by precise temporal regulation of myogenic genes. Timed substitution of variants within the nucleosomes provides a powerful means to ensure sequential expression of myogenic genes. Indeed, growing evidence has shown H3.3, H2A.Z, macroH2A and H1b to be critical for skeletal myogenesis. However, the relative importance of various histone variants and their associated chaperones in myogenesis is not fully appreciated. In this review, we summarize the role that histone variants play in altering chromatin landscape to ensure proper muscle differentiation. The temporal regulation and cross talk between histones variants and their chaperones in conjunction with other forms of epigenetic regulation could be critical to understanding myogenesis and their involvement in myopathies.

组蛋白变体调节染色质的可及性和基因转录。鉴于其独特的特性和功能，组蛋白变体替代可大幅改变核小体结构和局部染色质景观。由关键转录因子MyoD驱动的骨骼肌形成的特征是成肌基因的精确时间调控。核小体中变体的定时替换为确保成肌基因的顺序表达提供了强有力的手段。确实，越来越多的证据表明H3.3，H2A.Z，macroH2A和H1b对于骨骼肌生成至关重要。然而，各种组蛋白变体及其相关的伴侣在肌发生中的相对重要性尚未得到充分认识。在这篇评论中 我们总结了组蛋白变体在改变染色质景观以确保适当的肌肉分化中所起的作用。组蛋白变体及其伴侣之间的时间调控和串扰以及其他形式的表观遗传调控可能对理解肌生成及其在肌病中的参与至关重要。