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A low resolution structure for the histone core of the nucleosome

Nature volume 287, pages 509–516 (1980)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 30 October 1980

Abstract

Image reconstruction to 22 Å resolution of the histone octamer (H3)2 (H4)2 (H2A)2 (H2B)2 shows it to have a 2-fold axis of symmetry, and the overall shape of a left-handed helical spool on which to wind about two turns of a flat superhelix of DNA in the nucleosome. From this structure and the results of various cross-linking studies, we have deduced the arrangement of the individual histones. We propose that the (H3)2 (H4)2 tetramer forms a dislocated disk which defines the central turn of DNA, while the two H2A–H2B dimers lie one on each face, each associated with about one half a turn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, UK

    A. Klug, D. Rhodes, J. Smith & J. T. Finch

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK

    J. O. Thomas

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  1. A. Klug
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  4. J. T. Finch
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Klug, A., Rhodes, D., Smith, J. et al. A low resolution structure for the histone core of the nucleosome. Nature 287, 509–516 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/287509a0

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