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Related Concept Videos

The Nucleosome01:19

The Nucleosome

Human DNA is almost two meters long. However, it is compressed inside a tiny nucleus measuring only a few microns in diameter. To make this degree of compaction possible, DNA is organized into several sequential levels so that it can fit into such a tiny space. The most compact form of DNA is a chromosome that can be seen under a microscope in a dividing cell.
In a chromosome, DNA is wound twice around a protein complex called a histone octamer core, which consists of 8 histone proteins. This...
The Nucleosome02:33

The Nucleosome

DNA in a human cell is almost 2m long and it is packed inside a tiny nucleus that is only a few microns in diameter. The level of compaction of DNA inside the nucleus is astonishing. It is organized into several sequentially higher levels of compaction to fit into such a tiny space. The most compact form of DNA is a chromosome that can be seen under a microscope in a dividing cell.
DNA is wound twice around a protein complex called histone core, that consist of 8 histone proteins. This complex...
The Nucleosome02:33

The Nucleosome

DNA in a human cell is almost 2m long and it is packed inside a tiny nucleus that is only a few microns in diameter. The level of compaction of DNA inside the nucleus is astonishing. It is organized into several sequentially higher levels of compaction to fit into such a tiny space. The most compact form of DNA is a chromosome that can be seen under a microscope in a dividing cell.
DNA is wound twice around a protein complex called histone core, that consist of 8 histone proteins. This complex...
The Nucleosome Core Particle01:12

The Nucleosome Core Particle

Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...
The Nucleosome Core Particle02:10

The Nucleosome Core Particle

Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...
Histone Variants at the Centromere02:30

Histone Variants at the Centromere

Histone variants are the histone proteins with structural and sequence variations. These variants may be regarded as “mutant” forms that replace their canonical histone counterparts in the nucleosomes. Specific post-translational modifications on the histone variants enable further chromatin complexity and regulate tissue-specific gene expression. The most common histone variants are from histone H2A, H2B, and linker histone H1 families. However, several variants of histone H3 variants are also...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Assembly of Nucleosomal Arrays from Recombinant Core Histones and Nucleosome Positioning DNA
10:40

Assembly of Nucleosomal Arrays from Recombinant Core Histones and Nucleosome Positioning DNA

Published on: September 10, 2013

A specialized nucleosome has a "point" to make.

Weiguo Zhang1, Barbara G Mellone, Gary H Karpen

  • 1Department of Genome and Computational Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, MS 84-171, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

Cell
|June 19, 2007
PubMed
Summary

The nonhistone protein Scm3 is crucial for recruiting the histone H3 variant Cse4 to centromeres in budding yeast. Scm3 forms a unique chromatin component, impacting centromere assembly and chromatin function.

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Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Assembly of Nucleosomal Arrays from Recombinant Core Histones and Nucleosome Positioning DNA
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Assembly of Nucleosomal Arrays from Recombinant Core Histones and Nucleosome Positioning DNA

Published on: September 10, 2013

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Site Specific Lysine Acetylation of Histones for Nucleosome Reconstitution using Genetic Code Expansion in Escherichia coli
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Site Specific Lysine Acetylation of Histones for Nucleosome Reconstitution using Genetic Code Expansion in Escherichia coli

Published on: December 26, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Chromatin Biology
  • Yeast Genetics

Background:

  • Centromeres are essential for chromosome segregation during cell division.
  • The histone H3 variant Cse4 is a key component of the centromere-specific nucleosome.
  • The precise mechanism of Cse4 recruitment to centromeres remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of the nonhistone protein Scm3 in the centromeric recruitment of Cse4.
  • To characterize the composition of the chromatin complex involving Scm3 and Cse4.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized budding yeast as a model organism.
  • Investigated protein-protein interactions and chromatin assembly.
  • Analyzed the composition of centromeric chromatin.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that Scm3 is essential for the recruitment of Cse4 to centromeres.
  • Showed that Scm3 forms a chromatin component with Cse4:histone H4 tetramers.
  • Observed that this complex appears to lack histone H2A/H2B.

Conclusions:

  • Scm3 plays a critical role in the pathway for Cse4 centromeric localization.
  • The findings reveal a novel chromatin structure at centromeres, impacting our understanding of chromatin organization and function.