Condensacion del DNA

Empaquetamiento del DNA en

la Cromatina

CHROMATIN

JHW

Chromatin

Histone structure
Nucleosome
Chromatin fiber
Gene repression
Histone acetylation
Chromatin transcriptio
Gene expression contr

3-99

10,000 nm

DNA compaction

in a human nucleus

11 nm
30nm

1bp (0.3nm)

Compaction of DNA by histones

Compaction by chromosome scaffold / nuclear matrix

Nuclear - chromosome compaction

+ 2M NaCl
histones

chromatid

1m

Mitosis

mitotic chromosome

10 m

radial loop
chrosomosome model

DNA loop
+ 2M NaCl
histones
chromatid

Compaction by chromosome scaffold / nuclear matrix

HISTONES

H1
Linker histone

are
highly conserved,
small, basic proteins

H2A
H2B

helix

Core histones

variable

H3
H4

conserved
N

Histone acetylation
is a reversible modification
of lysines in the N-termini
of the core histones.
Result:
reduced binding to DNA
destabilization of chromatin

Core
The basic structure of ALL
Histones
core histones is the same:

1 long hydrophobic alpha-helix,

bordered by
2 short hydrophobic alpha helices
that form pairs
H2A - H2B and H3 - H4
which interact.
References: Moudrianakis et al. PNAS 88, 10138 (1991);
PNAS 90, 10489 (1993); PNAS 92, 11170 (1995)

Histone octamer assembly

H3-H4
tetramer

Histone
octamer

H2A-H2B
dimer

Histone octamer forms a ramp for

DNA

H4
H3
H2A
H2B

white
green
light blue
dark blue

red: + (arg, lys) orange: -OH (ser, thr)

<

11 nm

>

Histone octamer organizes 145 bp of

DNA

<

6 nm

>

Each core histone dimer

has 6 DNA binding surfaces
that organize 3 DNA turns;
The histone octamer
organizes 145 bp of DNA
in 1 3/4 helical turn of DNA:
48 nm of DNA packaged in a disc of 6 x
11nm

Chromatin
fibers

30 nm
chromatin fiber

+ charged N termini
(bind DNA on neigboring
nucleosomes)

11
(b

highly acety
core his
(especially H3 a

HIGH level of histone H1

Reduced level of histo

NO gene transcription

Gene transcription