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. 1981 Nov 11;9(21):5763–5784. doi: 10.1093/nar/9.21.5763

The structural organization of dinucleosomes and oligonucleosomes. Electric dichroism and birefringence study.

C Houssier, I Lasters, S Muyldermans, L Wyns
PMCID: PMC327559  PMID: 7312629

Abstract

The spatial organization of nucleosomes and linker DNA in dinucleosomes and oligonucleosomes of various chain lengths has been investigated through electric dichroism, birefringence and relaxation times measurements at low ionic strengths (0.5 to 2.2 mM). From the negative dichroism observed for all the samples, it is concluded that the nucleosome subunits in the oligonucleosome chain must lie with their disc planes closely parallel to the fibre axis. The large increase of the negative dichroism of dinucleosomes upon Hl removal is interpreted by the unwinding of the DNA tails and the internucleosomal segment. All the samples displayed, under bipolar pulses, a predominantly induced orientation mechanism.

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Selected References

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