DGCR1, DGGR 1, DGGR1, DiGeorge critical region gene 1, HIR, HIR histone cell cycle regulation defective homolog A, HIRA, HIRA protein, HIRA_HUMAN, Protein HIRA, TUP 1, TUP1, TUP1 like enhancer of split protein 1, TUP1-like enhancer of split protein 1, TUPLE 1, TUPLE1.
The HIRA gene encodes a histone chaperone that preferentially places the variant histone H3.3 in nucleosomes. Orthologs of this gene in flies, yeast and plants are necessary for the formation of transcriptionally silent heterochomatin. This gene plays an important role in the formation of the senescence-associated heterochromatin foci. These foci likely mediate the irreversible cell cycle changes that occur in senescent cells. It is considered the primary candidate gene in some haploinsufficiency syndromes such as DiGeorge syndrome, and insufficient production of the gene may disrupt normal embryonic development.
