Transcription-associated histone modifications and cryptic transcription

► Histone modifications influence chromatin organization during transcription elongation. ► Histone chaperones and H2B ubiquitination maintain nucleosome levels over gene bodies. ► Disruption of histone H3K36 methylation leads to increased histone exchange and altered, hyperacetylated chromatin. ► Perturbation of chromatin structure over gene bodies exposes cryptic promoters. ► Cryptic transcripts are polyadenylated and even translated - their function is unclear though.