Abstract
Whereas the core nucleosome is thought to serve as a packaging device for the coiling and contraction in length of genomic DNA, we suggest that it serves primarily in the regulation of transcription. A nucleosome on a promoter prevents the initiation of transcription. The association of nucleosomes with most genomic DNA prevents initiation from cryptic promoters. The nucleosome thus serves not only as a general gene repressor, but also as a repressor of all transcription (genic, intragenic, and intergenic). The core nucleosome performs a fundamental regulatory role, apart from the histone "tails," which modulate gene activity.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Binding Sites
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Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics*
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / metabolism
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Evolution, Molecular
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Gene Expression Regulation
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Histones / genetics
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Histones / metabolism
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Humans
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Nucleosomes / metabolism*
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Nucleosomes / ultrastructure
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Promoter Regions, Genetic
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RNA Polymerase II / genetics*
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RNA Polymerase II / metabolism
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / genetics*
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Transcription, Genetic*
Substances
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Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
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Histones
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Nucleosomes
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SWI-SNF-B chromatin-remodeling complex
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Transcription Factors
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RNA Polymerase II