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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

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...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 18, 2025

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

Nucleosome Positioning and Spacing: From Mechanism to Function.

Ashish Kumar Singh¹, Felix Mueller-Planitz²

¹Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhadernerstr. 9, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.

Journal of Molecular Biology

|February 4, 2021

Summary

Eukaryotes organize DNA with histone proteins into nucleosomes, forming regular arrays that protect genetic information. This review explores how transcription, remodelers, DNA sequence, and histone density establish these conserved chromatin structures.

Keywords:

function of nucleosome arrays nucleosome remodelers nucleosome spacing regular nucleosome arrays transcription

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

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Epigenetics

Background:

Eukaryotic genomes are organized by histone proteins into nucleosome particles.
Nucleosomes regulate and protect genetic information, often assembling into evenly spaced arrays.
These regular nucleosome arrays are conserved across eukaryotes and cover significant genomic regions, especially over genes.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the mechanisms establishing evenly spaced nucleosome arrays.
To emphasize the biogenesis of these primary chromatin structures.
To summarize current understanding of their cellular functions.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on chromatin structure and nucleosome biogenesis.
Highlighting key factors influencing nucleosome array formation.
Summarizing research on the cellular functions of nucleosome landscapes.

Main Results:

Evenly spaced nucleosome arrays are a conserved feature of eukaryotic genomes.
Transcription, nucleosome remodelers, DNA sequence, and histone density are key factors in their formation.
These arrays play crucial roles in regulating and protecting genetic information.

Conclusions:

The biogenesis of evenly spaced nucleosome arrays involves complex interplay of various factors.
Further research is needed to fully understand the formation and function of the nucleosome landscape.
Unanswered questions remain regarding the precise mechanisms and cellular roles.