title: A brief review of nucleosome structure.
abstract: The nucleosomal subunit organization of chromatin provides a multitude of functions. Nucleosomes elicit an initial ∼7-fold linear compaction of genomic DNA. They provide a critical mechanism for stable repression of genes and other DNA-dependent activities by restricting binding of trans-acting factors to cognate DNA sequences. Conversely they are engineered to be nearly meta-stable and disassembled (and reassembled) in a facile manner to allow rapid access to the underlying DNA during processes such as transcription, replication and DNA repair. Nucleosomes protect the genome from DNA damaging agents and provide a lattice onto which a myriad of epigenetic signals are deposited. Moreover, vast strings of nucleosomes provide a framework for assembly of the chromatin fiber and higher-order chromatin structures. Thus, in order to provide a foundation for understanding these functions, we present a review of the basic elements of nucleosome structure and stability, including the association of linker histones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States.
authors.forename: Amber R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cutter
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States. Electronic address: Jeffrey_Hayes@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hayes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004260:DNA Repair; D004261:DNA Replication; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA
keywords: Chromatin structure; Histone; Nucleosome structure