CMB2001/L03 Chromatin Structure Flashcards
What is chromatin composed of?
Basic histone proteins
What is the primary function of chromatin?
To compact DNA
Give the 2 types of histones.
Core histones
Linker histones
Describe the N-terminal tail domain of histones. (2)
Highly basic
Rich in Lys and Arg
Describe the globular domain of histones.
a-helices and loops
What are the repeating units of core histones?
Nucleosomes
Define a nucleosome.
-147bp of DNA wrapped twice around an octamer of histone proteins
Define an octamer.
Central H3-H4 tetramer + 2 flanking H2A-H2B dimers
How are nucleosomes organised? (3)
DNA passes directly from one nucleosome to the next
Linker histones (e.g., H1) bind to DNA between nucleosomes
In vitro linker histones result in formation of thicker 30nm fibre
What structure of chromatin is unlikely to exist in vivo?
Folded 30nm fibre
What evidence suggests that chromatin inhibits transcription?
RNA pol II + TFs + naked DNA template -> transcription
RNA pol II + TFs + chromatin template -> no transcription
Nucleosomes are disrupted or lost during transcriptional activation
How do genetic studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae show that chromatin inhibits transcription? (5)
H4 gene copies were deleted
Plasmid expressing H4 under control of regulatable GAL4 promoter
ON with galactose but OFF with glucose
When glucose was added, H4 expressed shut off
Nucleosome depletion and expression of inducible genes
Give the 2 conflicting roles of the nucleosome.
Compaction of DNA
Forms a template for DNA transcription
Give the 3 major mechanisms for modulating chromatin structure.
Histone variants
Post-translational modification of histones
ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling
What level are histone variants expressed at?
Very low levels compared to conventional counterparts