Long-range correlations in genomic DNA: a signature of the nucleosomal structure.
We use the "wavelet transform microscope" to carry out a comparative statistical analysis of DNA bending profiles and of the corresponding DNA texts. In the three kingdoms, one reveals on both signals a characteristic scale of 100-200 bp that separates two different regimes of power-law correlations (PLC). In the small-scale regime, PLC are observed in eukaryotic, in double-strand DNA viral, and in archaeal genomes, which contrasts with their total absence in the genomes of eubacteria and their viruses. This strongly suggests that small-scale PLC are related to the mechanisms underlying the wrapping of DNA in the nucleosomal structure. We further speculate that the large scale PLC are the signature of the higher-order structure and dynamics of chromatin.
Audit
B
B
Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, Pessac, France.
Thermes
C
C
Vaillant
C
C
d'Aubenton-Carafa
Y
Y
Muzy
J F
JF
Arneodo
A
A
D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D019641:DNA, Archaeal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells; D016678:Genome; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*
D019641:DNA, Archaeal; D004279:DNA, Viral; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA