Final answer:
Histone acetylation reduces the positive charge on histones, resulting in open chromatin and gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Histone acetylation reduces the positive charge on histones, resulting in a reduced affinity of the histone for DNA. The process is catalyzed by histone acetyltransferases (HAT enzymes) and results in the formation of "open" chromatin.
When histones are acetylated, the DNA is loosely packed, allowing transcription factors to bind to the DNA and genes to be expressed.