[Comparison of conformational possibilities of polypeptides representing the terminal segments of different histones]

Regular polypeptides--models of the N-terminal fragments of histones H2A and H4 and the C-terminal half of histone H1 were synthesized. Conformations of these polypeptides were investigated by using the methods of circular dichroism and optical rotatory dispersion. It was shown that all polypeptides studied in aqueous solutions at neutral pH and at low temperature (+2 degrees C) had the conformation of left-handed helix (LHH) or poly-L-proline type. The neutralization of positive charges of side groups at alkaline pH of screening of charged groups at a high ionic strength (up to 1 M NaF) results in increase of the degree of defectness of this conformation. There occur no transition of LHH to such an ordered conformation as alpha-helix or beta-sheet structure or complete disappearance of LHH. The influence of temperature, 80% ethanol and 1% sodium dodecylsulphate on the structure of these polypeptides was also studied. Differences in conformational potencies of two studied groups of polypeptides which are the models of the terminal fragments of various histones were discovered and associated with different biological functions of these histones in chromatin.