DNA RECOGNITION AND NUCLEOSOME ORGANIZATION

The affinity of a DNA sequence for the histone octamer in a core nucle osome depends on the intrinsic flexibility of the DNA. This parameter can be affected both by rite sequence-dependent conformational prefere nces of individual base steps and by the nature and location of the ex ocyclic groups of the DNA bases. By adopting highly preferred conforma tions particular types of base step can influence the rotational posit ioning of the DNA on the surface of the histone octamer. The asymmetry of the next higher oi-dei of chromatin structure is determined in par t by the asymmetric binding of the globular domain of histone H5 to th e core nucleosome. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 44 : 423-4 33 1997.