An octamer of histones H3 and 114 forms a compact complex with DNA of nucleosome size

摘要: Equimolar mixtures of histones H3 and H4 have been reconstituted onto DNA nucleosome core size. Two distinct complexes are formed in a relative abundance that depends on the starting ratio + to DNA. One these contains two H3-H4 dimers for each molecule, has sedimentation coefficient 7.5S. The other complex an octamer consisting four dimers, 10.4S. On basis measurements, we conclude (but not tetramer complex) is fully folded, compact structure resembling nucleosome.