Effect of linker-DNA sequence on linker histone positioning on the nucleosome

Abstract

The linker histone H1 associates with the smallest unit of chromatin, the nucleosome, at the region bounded by the two DNA arms emerging from the core (linker-DNA). How does the sequence of the linker-DNA affect the positioning of the H1? We focus on this question, using single-pair FRET and modeling based on distances derived from spFRET. On either side of the strongly positioning Widom 601 core DNA sequence, a stretch of 11 bp of the linker-DNA were modified to include a 100% GC stretch, a mixed, 64% AT-rich stretch, or an A-tract.