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. 1990 Oct 11;18(19):5767–5774. doi: 10.1093/nar/18.19.5767

Chromatin assembly on replicating DNA in vitro.

G Almouzni 1, D J Clark 1, M Méchali 1, A P Wolffe 1
PMCID: PMC332312  PMID: 2216769

Abstract

Replicating single-stranded DNA is preferentially assembled into chromatin in Xenopus egg extracts relative to non-replicating double-stranded DNA. We have examined the molecular basis of this phenomenon. Single-stranded DNA itself is not a favored template for nucleosome assembly in comparison to double-stranded DNA. Complementary strand synthesis is required for the rapid assembly of nucleosomes. We present evidence that the assembly of chromatin on replicating DNA is a two step phenomenon. The first step involves the replication of DNA and the assembly of an intermediate structure, the second step involves the sequestration of histones H2A/H2B onto DNA. Histones H2A/H2B are preferentially sequestered onto replicated DNA in comparison to non-replicated DNA incubated in the extract.

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Selected References

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