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PMID: 18059311 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

A variable topology for the 30-nm chromatin fibre.

EMBO reports ·Vol. 8 ·No. 12 ·2007-12-00 ·Pages 1129-34

Wu C, Bassett A, Travers A

Abstract

The structure of the 30-nm chromatin fibre is an important determinant of the regulation of eukaryotic transcription. A fundamental issue is whether the stacking of nucleosomes in this fibre is organized as a one-start or two-start helix. We argue that all recent experimental data are compatible with a two-start helix and propose that the topology of the fibre, but not the mode of stacking the nucleosomes, is dependent on the length of the linker DNA. This arrangement conserves nucleosome stacking and thus the external morphology of the fibre, and also ensures that the fibre adopts the highest available packing density.

MeSH Terms
Animals Chromatin/chemistry,metabolism DNA/chemistry,metabolism Humans Models, Biological Nucleic Acid Conformation Nucleosomes/chemistry,metabolism
Chemicals
Chromatin Nucleosomes DNA
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Wu Chenyi
Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK.
Bassett Andrew
Travers Andrew
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Article Info
Journal
EMBO reports
Abbr.
EMBO Rep
ISSN
1469-221X
DOI
10.1038/sj.embor.7401115
Published
2007-12-00
Pages
1129-34
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
100963049
PMCID
PMC2267236
Subset
IM
Grants
Medical Research Council · MC_U105184288 · United Kingdom
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/sj.embor.7401115 PMC Full Text View journal details
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