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. 1989 Nov;86(21):8266–8270. doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.21.8266

Higher-order structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromatin.

P T Lowary 1, J Widom 1
PMCID: PMC298261  PMID: 2682643

Abstract

We have developed a method for partially purifying chromatin from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) to a level suitable for studies of its higher-order folding. This has required the use of yeast strains that are free of the ubiquitous yeast "killer" virus. Results from dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction show that the yeast chromatin undergoes a cation-dependent folding into 30-nm filaments that resemble those characteristic of higher-cell chromatin; moreover, the packing of nucleosomes within the yeast 30-nm filaments is similar to that of higher cells. These results imply that yeast has a protein or protein domain that serves the role of the histone H 1 found in higher cells; physical and genetic studies of the yeast activity could help elucidate the structure and function of H 1. Images of the yeast 30-nm filaments can be used to test crossed-linker models for 30-nm filament structure.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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