Distinct levels in the nanoscale organization of DNA-histone complex revealed by its mechanical unfolding

Soni, GV and Brar, Loveleen and Hameed, Feroz M and Raychaudhuri, AK and Shivashankar, GV (2007) Distinct levels in the nanoscale organization of DNA-histone complex revealed by its mechanical unfolding. In: Applied Physics Letters, 90 . 163904-1-3.

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Abstract

Mechanical unfolding of nanoscale DNA-histone complex, using an atomic force microscope, shows a stepwise disassembly of histones from the nucleosome. A quantitative analysis of the rupture jump statistics and the length released per jump reveals insights into the possible histone contacts within the octamer complex. The measured ruptures correlate with the breakage of multiple contacts that stabilize the histone octamer. These results provide a mechanistic basis by which stepwise disassembly of histone proteins may result from an external force exerted by the adenosinetriphosphate ATP dependent chromatin remodeling machines to access regulatory sites on DNA.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Applied Physics Letters
Publisher:	American Institute of Physics
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to American Institute of Physics.
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2007
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:39
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/11699

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