How Does Sas5 Recognize Histone Proteins?

Histones are proteins that help package DNA and carry chemical modifications involved in regulating DNA accessibility. This project investigated how the Sas5 YEATS domain recognizes histones and whether it uses the same binding mechanism as the related protein Taf14. Across multiple independent peptide-pulldown experiments, the F85A mutation strongly reduced histone binding by Taf14, while Sas5 retained histone binding after the equivalent mutation. These results suggest that Sas5 recognizes histones through a mechanism distinct from Taf14 and help define what makes Sas5 different from other YEATS-domain proteins.