Histone core slips along DNA and prefers positioning at the chain end - art. no. 078105

We studied the stability and dynamics of a model of a nucleosome, the funda mental unit for the packing of long DNA in eukaryotes, using a Brownian dyn amics simulation. For the proper folding of a stiff polymer on a core parti cle, moderate attractive interaction is shown to be essentially important, which explains the empirical experimental protocol for the reconstitution o f nucleosomes. The effect of the chain end on the positioning of the core p article is examined and compared with the experimental data by atomic force microscopy measurement. It is also suggested that the core particle exhibi ts sliding motion along the chain as a manifestation of Brownian motion.