Chapter 10 Flashcards
is the complex of DNA and DNA-binding proteins such as histones.
chromatin
Histones are by far the most abundant proteins in chromatin and are organized in repetitive units, known as
composed mainly of a dual tetramer
nucleosomes
Is formed by each of the core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4)
tetramer
The DNA connecting two consecutive nucleosomes is called
linker DNA
formed with 2 copies of all the major histones
can only be formed in the presence of DNA
octamer
a structural motif composed of three
alpha helices interconnected by two loops
Histones fold motif
head to tail between H3 and H4 or H2A and H2B is at the base of the tight DNA binding to the
histones
dimer of histone folds
forms a V-shaped structure including three DNA-binding sites.
each dimer
placed in the center of the nucleosome
H1 and linker DNA
are arranged with helical pitch of 11 nm, the size of a nucleosome
nucleosome units
nucleosome arranged in a spiral shape, with the flat sides of disks are facing each other; linker bent inside the spiral
solenoid model
nucleosomes from
two DNA portions twist around a central axis.
suggested by electron microscopy observation
zigzag model
Another empirical evidence supporting the
zigzag model is the crystal structure of the
tetranucleosome
Similarly, histone-depleted chromosomes* are composed of a
chromosomal scaffold
A protein complex with ATPase activity that translocates (i.e., slides) nucleosomes along the DNA.
chromatin remodeling complex