Possibility of nonkinked packing of DNA in chromatin. | Zendy

Joel L. Sussman | Zendy; E. N. Trifonov | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

Possibility of nonkinked packing of DNA in chromatin.

Author(s) -

Joel L. Sussman,

E. N. Trifonov

Publication year - 1978

Publication title -

proceedings of the national academy of sciences

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011

H-Index - 771

eISSN - 1091-6490

pISSN - 0027-8424

DOI - 10.1073/pnas.75.1.103

Subject(s) - nucleosome , dna , chromatin , base pair , curvature , bent molecular geometry , stacking , van der waals force , radius , dna supercoil , crystallography , superhelix , biophysics , molecular physics , physics , chemistry , chemical physics , molecule , biology , geometry , dna replication , quantum mechanics , mathematics , biochemistry , computer security , organic chemistry , computer science , nuclear magnetic resonance

The idea that DNA in chromatin can be packed smoothly, without breaking of base-stacking interactions, has been explored by both energetical estimations and stereochemical model building. A model of deformed DNA is built that fits reasonably to the known dimensions of a nucleosome. The model has slightly changed torsion angles in the sugarphosphate moieties relative to B DNA, varying gradually along the chains. The angle between planes of adjacent base pairs varies between 1 and 7 degrees. This model of deformed DNA does not have any unusually close nonbonded contacts and is evidently not the only possible model of smooth packing of DNA in chromatin. An energetical estimation of the critical radius of curvature of a smoothly bent DNA molecule is made using approximate potential functions for different van der Waals contracts in the B DNA structure. The critical radius of curvature of the deformed DNA-axis is close to the radius of a nucleosome (similar to 50 A). The smooth packing is a good alternative to models of kinked folding of DNA in nucleosomes.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research