Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Nucleosome Core Particle

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...

The Nucleosome Core Particle

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...

Nucleosome Remodeling

Nucleosome Remodeling

Nucleosomes are the basic units of chromatin compaction. Each nucleosome consists of the DNA bound tightly around a histone core, which makes the DNA inaccessible to DNA binding proteins such as DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase. Hence, the fundamental problem is to ensure access to DNA when appropriate, despite the compact and protective chromatin structure.
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...

The Nucleosome

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

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 Nucleosome

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A new perspective on cancer treatment: the interaction and application prospect between ICIs and radiotherapy.

Precision radiation oncology·2026

Same author

Eculizumab in Myasthenia Gravis: A Multicenter Retrospective Real-World Study in China.

Neurology and therapy·2026

Same author

Toward Nano-Nutritional Medicine: A Remotely Activated Trans-Vaccenic Acid-Based Lipid Nanoparticles for Enhancing Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

HOXD11-NMDAR signaling drives neuroendocrine prostate cancer and enables potential therapeutic intervention as a target of memantine.

Cell reports·2026

Same author

Oligodendrocyte lineage cell-specific GPR17/Gelsolin signaling regulates remyelination and cognitive recovery after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Experimental neurology·2026

Same author

ASO therapy rescues NOTCH2NLC GGC repeat expansion-induced genomic damage, 3D chromatin structural abnormalities, and senescence.

Nature communications·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Probing The Structure And Dynamics Of Nucleosomes Using Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging

Probing The Structure And Dynamics Of Nucleosomes Using Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging

Published on: January 31, 2019

Nucleosome structural studies.

Song Tan¹, Curt A Davey

¹Center for Eukaryotic Gene Regulation, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology

|December 24, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding nucleosome structure is key to epigenetic regulation in health and disease. Recent structural studies reveal insights into DNA stretching, positioning, and interactions with proteins and drugs.

More Related Videos

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

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

Published on: September 10, 2013

In Situ Nucleosome Assembly for Single-Molecule Correlative Force and Fluorescence Microscopy

In Situ Nucleosome Assembly for Single-Molecule Correlative Force and Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: September 6, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Probing The Structure And Dynamics Of Nucleosomes Using Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging

Probing The Structure And Dynamics Of Nucleosomes Using Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging

Published on: January 31, 2019

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

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

Published on: September 10, 2013

In Situ Nucleosome Assembly for Single-Molecule Correlative Force and Fluorescence Microscopy

In Situ Nucleosome Assembly for Single-Molecule Correlative Force and Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: September 6, 2024

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genomics
Structural Biology

Background:

Chromatin is essential for eukaryotic genome regulation.
Epigenetic processes significantly impact human health and disease.
Understanding nucleosome structure and function is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight recent advances in chromatin structural studies.
To provide new insights into nucleosome structure and DNA interactions.
To emphasize the importance of nucleosome structure in biological processes.

Main Methods:

X-ray crystallography of nucleosome core particles.
Structural analysis of chromatin protein-nucleosome complexes.
Biophysical characterization of nucleosomal DNA.

Main Results:

First structures of nucleosomes with the Widom 601 sequence determined.
Structure of a chromatin protein-nucleosome assembly elucidated.
New insights into nucleosomal DNA stretching, positioning, and binding interactions.

Conclusions:

Recent structural discoveries offer significant insights into nucleosome function.
Understanding nucleosome structure is vital for advancing epigenetic research.
Future prospects are promising for unraveling chromatin's structural attributes.