a)Schematic
representation of the histone octamer. In yellow H2A-H2B, in blue
H2A'-H2B' and in green the
tetramer (H4-H3-H3'-H4'). The two contacts of H2A-H2B with H3'-H4' and
H2A'-H2B' are showm in
red dotted lines. The purple arrow stands for the rotation axis.
b)Side view of the NCP. We show in red the H2A--H2B atoms in contact (distance smaller than 3 angstroms) with H2A'-H2B' or H3'-H4'. It is highly probable from most recent cristallographic data that several sheets of water molecules fill the interspace between H2A--H2B and the rest of the NCP. The back half of the nucleosome has been removed for clarity.
c)detail of the interface between H2A and H3'-H4'.
d)Schematic representation of the gaped octamer.
e)Side view of the NCP after a hinge opening of 30° around the disulfide bridge at both H3-110 cysteines. Click here to see the movie
f)local deformations of H2A and H4' C-terminal tails preserves most hydrophobic contacts during the gaping.
The 3Dstudio scheme has been made by Etienne Gry.
b)Side view of the NCP. We show in red the H2A--H2B atoms in contact (distance smaller than 3 angstroms) with H2A'-H2B' or H3'-H4'. It is highly probable from most recent cristallographic data that several sheets of water molecules fill the interspace between H2A--H2B and the rest of the NCP. The back half of the nucleosome has been removed for clarity.
c)detail of the interface between H2A and H3'-H4'.
d)Schematic representation of the gaped octamer.
e)Side view of the NCP after a hinge opening of 30° around the disulfide bridge at both H3-110 cysteines. Click here to see the movie
f)local deformations of H2A and H4' C-terminal tails preserves most hydrophobic contacts during the gaping.
The 3Dstudio scheme has been made by Etienne Gry.