Histones
Histones
Histones (/ˈhɪstoʊnz/) are a family of proteins that play a crucial role in organizing DNA in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. They are the main protein components of chromatin, acting as spools around which DNA winds, and play a role in gene regulation.
Etymology
The term "histone" dates back to 1884 and comes from the German word "histon," which was from the Greek word "histos" meaning "web, tissue, warp of a loom."
Function
Histones function as the main protein component of the chromatin in eukaryotic cells. They act as spools around which DNA winds, and are involved in gene regulation. Without histones, the unwound DNA in chromosomes would be much too long to fit inside the nucleus.
Types
There are five main types of histones: H1/H5, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 are known as the core histones, while H1/H5 are the linker histones.
H1/H5
H1/H5 histones are responsible for the assembly of the higher order structure of chromatin.
H2A
H2A histones are one of the five main types of histones. They are part of the core histones and are involved in the structure of the chromatin in eukaryotic cells.
H2B
H2B histones are also part of the core histones and are involved in the structure of the chromatin in eukaryotic cells.
H3
H3 histones are another type of core histones. They are involved in the structure of the chromatin in eukaryotic cells.
H4
H4 histones are the last type of core histones. They are involved in the structure of the chromatin in eukaryotic cells.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Histones
- Wikipedia's article - Histones
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