Nucleosome switches.
We present a statistical-mechanical model for the positioning of nucleosomes along genomic DNA molecules as a function of the strength of the binding potential and the chemical potential of the nucleosomes. We show that a significant section of the DNA is composed of two-level nucleosome switching regions where the nucleosome distribution undergoes a localized, first-order transition. The location of the nucleosome switches shows a strong correlation with the location of gene-regulation regions.
Schwab
David J
DJ
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024, USA. djs47@physics.ucla.edu
Bruinsma
Robijn F
RF
Rudnick
Joseph
J
Widom
Jonathan
J
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*
D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA