Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026

05:00
Author Spotlight: Streamlining Visual Dynamics to Simplify Molecular Dynamics Simulations Using Gromacs
Published on: August 9, 2024
1.9K
Visualizing the dynamics of histone variants in the S-phase nucleus
Stella Maxouri1, Stavros Taraviras2, Zoi Lygerou3
1Laboratory of Biology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
Genome Biology
|November 2, 2018
Summary
Histone variants are key to the epigenome. New research used super-resolution microscopy to map H3 histone variant distribution in the nucleus and link it to DNA replication timing.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Histone variants are crucial components of the epigenome.
- Their dynamic behavior during DNA replication and nuclear organization is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial distribution of H3 histone variants within the nucleus.
- To correlate this distribution with the timing of DNA replication.
Main Methods:
- Utilized stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) for high-resolution imaging.
- Analyzed the spatial organization of H3 histone variants.
Main Results:
- Provided a high-resolution map of H3 histone variant distribution.
- Established a relationship between variant localization and DNA replication timing.
Conclusions:
- High-resolution imaging reveals the nuclear organization of histone variants.
- This organization is linked to the temporal regulation of DNA replication.
Related Concept Videos
Histone Variants at the Centromere
5.1K
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...
5.1K
Histone Modification
16.1K
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone...
16.1K
Histone Modification
4.5K
4.5K
The Nucleus
102.4K
The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle that acts as a control center in a eukaryotic cell. It contains chromosomal DNA, which controls gene expression and precisely regulates the production of proteins within the cell. In contrast, the DNA inside the mitochondria and chloroplast only carries out functions that are specific to those organelles.
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
102.4K
The Nucleus
7.6K
The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle that acts as a control center in a eukaryotic cell. It contains chromosomal DNA, which controls gene expression and precisely regulates the production of proteins within the cell. In contrast, the DNA inside the mitochondria and chloroplast only carries out functions that are specific to those organelles.
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
Arrangement of DNA within Nucleus
The regulation of gene expression inside the nucleus is dependent on many factors, including the DNA structure. The...
7.6K
Phase Transitions
23.2K
Whether solid, liquid, or gas, a substance's state depends on the order and arrangement of its particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Particles in the solid pack closely together, generally in a pattern. The particles vibrate about their fixed positions but do not move or squeeze past their neighbors. In liquids, although the particles are closely spaced, they are randomly arranged. The position of the particles are not fixed—that is, they are free to move past their neighbors to...
23.2K

