Abstract
A model of the nucleosome core is proposed based on a topologically linear array of histones attached sequentially to DNA. The linear complex folds helically forming a spring-like particle. Different variants of the particle are discussed (cylindrical springs with and without histone-histone contacts between turns of the helix, solenoidal spring). The model is consistent with known data about the nucleosome structure. Histones H3 and H4 have a special role in the model which is related also to the superstructure of chromatin.
Full text
PDF









Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Baldwin J. P., Boseley P. G., Bradbury E. M., Ibel K. The subunit structure of the eukaryotic chromosome. Nature. 1975 Jan 24;253(5489):245–249. doi: 10.1038/253245a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bina-Stein M., Simpson R. T. Specific folding and contraction of DNA by histones H3 and H4. Cell. 1977 Jul;11(3):609–618. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(77)90078-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bonner W. M., Pollard H. B. The presence of F3-F2a1 dimers and F1 oligomers in chromatin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1975 May 5;64(1):282–288. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(75)90250-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chalkley R. Histone propinquity using imidoesters. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1975 May 19;64(2):587–594. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(75)90362-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chalkley R., Hunter C. Histone-histone propinquity by aldehyde fixation of chromatin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Apr;72(4):1304–1308. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.4.1304. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Chatterjee S., Walker I. O. The modification of deoxyribonucleohistone by trypsin and chymotrypsin. Eur J Biochem. 1973 May 2;34(3):519–526. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1973.tb02789.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- D'Anna J. A., Jr, Isenberg I. A complex of histones IIb2 and IV. Biochemistry. 1973 Mar 13;12(6):1035–1043. doi: 10.1021/bi00730a003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- D'Anna J. A., Jr, Isenberg I. A histone cross-complexing pattern. Biochemistry. 1974 Nov 19;13(24):4992–4997. doi: 10.1021/bi00721a019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- D'Anna J. A., Jr, Isenberg I. Interactions of histone LAK (f2a2) with histones KAS (f2b) and GRK (f2a1). Biochemistry. 1974 May 7;13(10):2098–2104. doi: 10.1021/bi00707a016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Finch J. T., Klug A. Solenoidal model for superstructure in chromatin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Jun;73(6):1897–1901. doi: 10.1073/pnas.73.6.1897. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Finch J. T., Lutter L. C., Rhodes D., Brown R. S., Rushton B., Levitt M., Klug A. Structure of nucleosome core particles of chromatin. Nature. 1977 Sep 1;269(5623):29–36. doi: 10.1038/269029a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gigot C., Philipps G., Nicolaieff A., Hirth L. Some properties of tobacco protoplast chromatin. Nucleic Acids Res. 1976 Sep;3(9):2315–2329. doi: 10.1093/nar/3.9.2315. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hardison R. C., Eichner M. E., Chalkley R. An approach to histone nearest neighbours in extended chromatin. Nucleic Acids Res. 1975 Oct;2(10):1751–1770. doi: 10.1093/nar/2.10.1751. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hyde J. E., Walker I. O. A model for chromatin sub-structure incorporating symmetry considerations of histone oligomers. Nucleic Acids Res. 1975 Mar;2(3):405–421. doi: 10.1093/nar/2.3.405. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hyde J. E., Walker I. O. Covalent cross-linking of histones in chromatin. FEBS Lett. 1975 Feb 1;50(2):150–154. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(75)80477-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kornberg R. D. Chromatin structure: a repeating unit of histones and DNA. Science. 1974 May 24;184(4139):868–871. doi: 10.1126/science.184.4139.868. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kornberg R. D. Structure of chromatin. Annu Rev Biochem. 1977;46:931–954. doi: 10.1146/annurev.bi.46.070177.004435. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Langmore J. P., Wooley J. C. Chromatin architecture: investigation of a subunit of chromatin by dark field electron microscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Jul;72(7):2691–2695. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.7.2691. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Li H. J. A model for chromatin structure. Nucleic Acids Res. 1975 Aug;2(8):1275–1289. doi: 10.1093/nar/2.8.1275. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Li H. J., Wickett R., Craig A. M., Isenberg I. Conformational changes in histone IV. Biopolymers. 1972 Feb;11(2):375–397. doi: 10.1002/bip.1972.360110206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Martinson H. G., McCarthy B. J. Histone-histone associations within chromatin. Cross-linking studies using tetranitromethane. Biochemistry. 1975 Mar 11;14(5):1073–1078. doi: 10.1021/bi00676a030. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Martinson H. G., McCarthy B. J. Histone-histone interactions within chromatin. Preliminary characterization of presumptive H2B-H2A and H2B-H4 binding. Biochemistry. 1976 Sep 7;15(18):4126–4131. doi: 10.1021/bi00663a033. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Martinson H. G., Shetlar M. D., McCarthy B. J. Histone-histone interactions within chromatin. Crosslinking studies using ultraviolet light. Biochemistry. 1976 May 4;15(9):2002–2007. doi: 10.1021/bi00654a030. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Moss T., Cary P. D., Crane-Robinson C., Bradbury E. M. Physical studies on the H3/H4 histone tetramer. Biochemistry. 1976 Jun 1;15(11):2261–2267. doi: 10.1021/bi00656a003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Noll M., Thomas J. O., Kornberg R. D. Preparation of native chromatin and damage caused by shearing. Science. 1975 Mar 28;187(4182):1203–1206. doi: 10.1126/science.187.4182.1203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Olins D. E., Bryan P. N., Harrington R. E., Hill W. E., Olins A. L. Conformational states of chromatin nu bodies induced by urea. Nucleic Acids Res. 1977 Jun;4(6):1911–1931. doi: 10.1093/nar/4.6.1911. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pardon J. F., Wilkins M. H., Richards B. M. Super-helical model for nucleohistone. Nature. 1967 Jul 29;215(5100):508–509. doi: 10.1038/215508a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pekary A. E., Li H. J., Chan S. I., Hsu C. J., Wagner T. E. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of histone IV solution conformation. Biochemistry. 1975 Mar 25;14(6):1177–1184. doi: 10.1021/bi00677a012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Richards B., Pardon J., Lilley D., Cotter R., Wooley J., Worchester D. The sub-structure of nucleosomes. Cell Biol Int Rep. 1977 Jan;1(1):107–116. doi: 10.1016/0309-1651(77)90017-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Roark D. E., Geoghegan T. E., Keller G. H. A two-subunit histone complex from calf thymus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1974 Jul 24;59(2):542–547. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(74)80014-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simpson R. T. Histones H3 and H4 interact with the ends of nucleosome DNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Dec;73(12):4400–4404. doi: 10.1073/pnas.73.12.4400. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sobell H. M., Tsai C. C., Gilbert S. G., Jain S. C., Sakore T. D. Organization of DNA in chromatin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Sep;73(9):3068–3072. doi: 10.1073/pnas.73.9.3068. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sobell H. M., Tsai C. C., Jain S. C., Gilbert S. G. Visualization of drug-nucleic acid interactions at atomic resolution. III. Unifying structural concepts in understanding drug-DNA interactions and their broader implications in understanding protein-DNA interactions. J Mol Biol. 1977 Aug 15;114(3):333–365. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(77)90254-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sperling R., Amos L. A. Arrangement of subunits in assembled histone H4 fibers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977 Sep;74(9):3772–3776. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.9.3772. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sperling R., Bustin M. Dynamic equilibrium in histone assembly: self-assembly of single histones and histone pairs. Biochemistry. 1975 Jul 29;14(15):3322–3331. doi: 10.1021/bi00686a006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Spiker S., Isenberg I. Cross-complexing pattern of plant histones. Biochemistry. 1977 May 3;16(9):1819–1826. doi: 10.1021/bi00628a009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thomas J. O., Kornberg R. D. An octamer of histones in chromatin and free in solution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Jul;72(7):2626–2630. doi: 10.1073/pnas.72.7.2626. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thomas J. O., Kornberg R. D. Cleavable cross-links in the analysis of histone-histone associations. FEBS Lett. 1975 Oct 15;58(1):353–358. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(75)80296-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Van Lente F., Jackson J. F., Weintraub H. Identification of specific crosslinked histones after treatment of chromatin with formaldehyde. Cell. 1975 May;5(1):45–50. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(75)90090-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Varshavsky A. J., Bakayev V. V. Studies on chromatin. IV. Evidence for a toroidal shape of chromatin subunits. Mol Biol Rep. 1975 Oct;2(3):247–254. doi: 10.1007/BF00356995. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Weintraub H., Palter K., Van Lente F. Histones H2a, H2b, H3, and H4 form a tetrameric complex in solutions of high salt. Cell. 1975 Sep;6(1):85–110. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(75)90077-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Weintraub H., Van Lente F. Dissection of chromosome structure with trypsin and nucleases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974 Oct;71(10):4249–4253. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.10.4249. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Weintraub H., Worcel A., Alberts B. A model for chromatin based upon two symmetrically paired half-nucleosomes. Cell. 1976 Nov;9(3):409–417. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(76)90085-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
