View source for Histones

Histones are the building blocks of [[Chromatin]] structure. In order for [[DNA|DNA]] to be packaged tightly enough to fit into a [[Chromosome|chromosome]], it wraps around [[Proteins|proteins]] called histones, located in the [[Nucleus|nucleus]] of a [[Cell|cell]]<ref>http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Histone</ref>. 

The importance of these proteins has been discussed by Alberts Et al. The author claims that within each human Nuclei, such huge quantities of Histones exist, that, combined, their total weight would equal that of DNA itself. The value of Histones is further demonstrated when one considers its function. Vital for 'wrapping' DNA they play a major role in producing the primary and arguably the most basic level of DNA structural units. Their repeating units are termed Nucleosomes and are often referred to as 'Beads on a string'. 

Histones, which is one of the two classes of DNA-binding proteins of chromatin, consists of five different types of proteins. These are H1, H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 and have unique properties from one another. These can be further regrouped into two major classes; Core and Linker: 

#Core Histones - H3, H4, H2B and H2A. 
#Linker Histone - H1.

The core Histones (H3, H4, H2B, H2A) form the histone octamer, via linking of two flanking H2 dimers and one core H3-H4 tetramer with the DNA wrapped around. This links with other nucleosomes to form the 10-nanometre fibre which in turn, is linked with H1 linker histones, helping to form a higher order structure known as the 30-nanometer fibre. While the structure of the 30nm fibre is not yet fully known, David J. Tremethick discusses the possibility of it forming a "two-start helix" referred to as a 'zig-zag' structure<ref>Mathews et al. (2000); Biochemistry; 3rd Edition</ref>. The core histones are each made of a globular domain and an NH2-terminal end tail, which is arginine and leucine-rich to give the tails a positive charge. The negative charge of the [[DNA|DNA]] and the positive charge of the amino acid residues attract each other and hold the chromatid together (much like glue)<ref>Lodish et al. (2008). Molecular Cell Biology. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company.</ref>. 

The histone octamer is made up of two dimers of H4/H3 and surrounded on either side by an H2A/H2B dimer. This dimer is capable of winding 147 base pairs of [[DNA|DNA]] around itself, in two left-handed loops, forming a structure known as a [[Nucleosome|nucleosome]]. Each nucleosome is separated by 20-30 base pairs of [[DNA|DNA]], and can also be referred to as 'linker DNA'<ref>White, Robert J. (2000). Gene transcription: mechanisms and control. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science.</ref>. 

The H1 linker is required once the DNA has been wound around the nucleosome and its affinity is increased. This linker protein allows for the 10nm strand to be condensed further into a 30nm strand<ref>http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev.biophys.26.1.83</ref>. (the structure is not 100% known, but it is believed to be solanoid). 

This highly efficient method of packaging [[DNA|DNA]] allows for around 2 meters of our genetic material to be condensed into a cell that is only a few microns across. However, this also poses a problem as the [[DNA|DNA]] becomes almost inaccessible for any gene transcription machinery. 

The positive [[Arginine|arginine]] and [[Leucine|leucine]] residues on the NH2-terminal tails also provide a target for modulating the chromatid structure, in order to generate a more easily approachable [[DNA|DNA]] strand and to allow [[Translation|gene expression]] to take place. There are four major methods of chromatid structure modulation: 

Histones proteins play a vital role in the packaging of the DNA double helix structure providing the DNA with structural support and means the DNA can fit into the nucleus of the cell; without histones/chromatin, the DNA sequence in humans would be over 1.8m long per cell compared to approximately 90 micrometres. The histones allow the compaction of the DNA which enables over 40,000 times more genetic information to fit into the nuclei of eukaryotes<ref>Redon C, Pilch D, Rogakou E, Sedelnikova O, Newrock K, Bonner W "Histone H2A variants H2AX and H2AZ". Current Opinion in Genetics &amp; Development. (2002)</ref>. 

Post-translational Modification of Histones: 

*[[Acetylation|Acetylation]] 
*[[Methylation|Methylation]] 
*[[Ulbiquitylation|Ulbiquitylation]] 
*[[Phosphorylation|Phosphorylation]]<ref>Lodish et al. (2008). Molecular Cell Biology. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company.</ref>.

=== References  ===

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