REGULAR ARTICLESS

Cell Research (1999), 9, 255--260

The structure of the nucleosome core particle of chromatin in chicken erythrocytes visualized by using atomic force microscopy

ZHAO Hui¹, Yi ZHANG², Shu Bing ZHANG¹, Chu JIANG¹, Qi Ye HE¹, Min Qian LI², Ruo Lan QIAN^1,*

1. Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
2. Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China

ABSTRACT

The structure of the nuclosome core particle of chromatin in chicken erythrocytes has been examined by using AFM. The 146 bp of DNA wrapped twice around the core histone octamer are clearly visualized. Both the ends of entry/exit of linker DNA are also demonstrated. The dimension of the nucleosome core particles is ~ 1-4 nm in height and ~ 13-22 nm in width. In addition, superbeads (width of ~ 48-57 nm, height of ~ 2-3 nm) are occasionally revealed, two turns of DNA around the core particles are also detected.

Key words: Nucleosome core particle, chicken erythrocytes, atomic force microscopy.

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