The 500 suboptimal pathways between the L1 loops and symmetrically associated DNA entry for the (a) canonical NCP, (b) L1-mutant, (c) macroH2A, and (d) H2A.Z projected on simulation snapshots. Also shown is the histogram of pathway distances (e). The L1 and DNA sites are represented as blue spheres, and the pathways are outlined in red with the wider pathways representing those of shorter distance. Pathways in the variants are shorter, and thus stronger, than in the canonical NCP. To see this figure in color, go online.