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histone

1 of 1noun
/ˈhɪstoʊn/
Forms:histones
1

a type of protein that plays a structural role in the packaging of DNA into nucleosomes, fundamental units of chromatin

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  • Histones act as spools around which DNA winds, forming compact structures called nucleosomes.
  • Nucleosomes, composed of histone proteins and DNA, are the basic repeating units of chromatin.
  • Histones help organize and condense long strands of DNA within the cell nucleus.
  • The modification of histones can influence gene expression by regulating DNA accessibility.
  • Changes in histone structure can influence the three-dimensional organization of the genome.