Single-Molecule Studies of the Linker Histone H1 Binding to DNA and the Nucleosome.

ABSTRACT: Linker histone H1 regulates chromatin structure and gene expression. Investigating the dynamics and stoichiometry of binding of H1 to DNA and the nucleosome is crucial to elucidating its functions. Because of the abundant positive charges and the strong self-affinity of H1, quantitative in vitro studies of its binding to DNA and the nucleosome have generated results that vary widely and, therefore, should be interpreted in a system specific manner. We sought to overcome this limitation by developing a specially passivated microscope slide surface to monitor binding of H1 to DNA and the nucleosome at a single-molecule level. According to our measurements, the stoichiometry of binding of H1 to DNA and the nucleosome is very heterogeneous with a wide distribution whose averages are in reasona

SUBMITTER: Yue H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5436050 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature