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S G Bavykin

Publications and source records attributed to S G Bavykin.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Primary organization of nucleosome core particle of chromatin: sequence of histone arrangement along DNA.

A high-resolution map for the arrangement of histones along DNA in the nucleosome core particle has been determined by a sequencing procedure based on crosslinking histones to the 5'-terminal DNA fragments produced by scission of one DNA strand at the point of crosslinking. The position of histones on DNA has been identified by measuring the length of crosslinked DNA fragments. The results demonstrate that each of the histones is arranged within several adjacent or dispersed DNA segments of a little less than 10 nucleotides in length. Histone-free intervals are located between these segments at the regular distances of about (10)n nucleotides from the 5' end of the DNA and are likely to face one side of the DNA helix. Histones appear to be arranged in a similar manner on both DNA strands and do not form "locks" around DNA. A linearized model of the core particle is proposed.

Binding Sites↗

[Structure of nucleosomes and organization of inter-nucleosomal DNA in chromatin].

We have compared mononucleosomes that were obtained by hydrolysis of chromatin micrococcal nuclease from a number of sources with the length of a nucleosomal repeat 185--245 b. p. long. For hydrolysis of chromatin isolated from nuclei, a series of nucleosomes was formed: MN145 (core particle), MN165, MN175...MN205, MN215, the lengths of their DNAs differing (by approximately 10.n b.p. where n = 1, 2, 3...) by a factor of 10. A feature of hydrolysis of chromatin in nuclei was the appearance of an additional H1-depleted MN155 particle. It is suggested that upon isolation of chromatin from nuclei, its partial decompactization takes place. This decompactization changes the character of nuclease splitting and seems to be connected with rearrangement of histone H1. These observations demonstrate that besides core particles MN145 and chromatosomes MN165, the major particles of digest of nuclei appear to be MN155, and for isolated chromatin--MN175. Unlike this standard picture, mainly MN145, MN155, MN235 and MN245 are formed upon hydrolysis of sea urchin sperm nuclei.

Animals↗

[Comparison of the primary structure of reconstructed minimal nucleosomes and nucleosomes isolated from the chromatin].

We have reconstructed nucleosomes from a histone octamer (H2A, H2B, H3, H4)2 and DNA 146 b.p. or 2-3 thousands b.p. in length. Comparison by means of DNA-histone cross-links of the primary organization of minimal nucleosomes obtained by reconstruction or isolated from chromatin of chicken erythrocyte nuclei has demonstrated a high similarity in histone location on their DNAs. Simultaneously, there have been observed some variations in the character of interaction for all core histones with DNA on nucleosomes. Thus, the cross-link of histone H4 with DNA of a core particle at H4 sites (65), unlike H4(55) and H4(88) sites, significantly depends on the superstructure of chromatin, ionic strength of solution and the presence of denaturating agents. All these differences are expected to probe the existence of conformational isomers for core particles. (Bracketed is the distance from the histone interaction site with the DNA of the core particle to the DNA 5'-terminus.)

Animals↗

[Primary organization of nucleosome core particles in active and repressed nuclei].

A refined high-resolution map for the linear arrangement of histones along DNA in the nucleosomal core particles has been determined by DNA-protein crosslinking. Histones are aligned on one strand of the 145 bp core DNA in the following order: (5') H2B25,35--H455,65--H375,85,, 95/H488--H2B105, 115--H2A118--H3135, 145/H2A145 (3') (the subscripts indicate the approximate distance in nucleotides of the main histone binding sites from the 5'-end of the core DNA). This suggests a symmetrical and rather autonomous arrangement of the histone tetramer (H3, H4)2 and two dimers (H2A, H2B) on the double-stranded core DNA: H2A/H3--(H2A, H2B)--(H3, H4)2--(H2B, H2A)--H3/H2A. The arrangement of histones on DNA was found to be very similar for the cores isolated from the repressed nuclei of sea urchin sperm and chicken erythrocytes and from the active in transcription and replication Drosophila embryo and yeast nuclei. This indicates that the core nucleosome structure is highly conserved through evolution and that the overall inactivation of chromatin does not affect the primary organization of the cores. A new binding site H2B58 was found for a sea urchin spermal variant of H2B which contains an additional basic segment within the N-terminal part of the molecule. The core isolation procedure was shown to introduce changes into the core structure which are reflected in the appearance of a new binding site H2A75.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Heterogeneity of the structural organization of the chromatin domain including the dihydrofolate reductase gene in Chinese hamster ovary cell culture].

We investigated histone-DNA interactions in chromatin of amplified about 1000 fold dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) domain in methotrexate resistant Chinese hamster ovary cell line CHOC 400. We explored chromatin structure of DHFR-gene and extended region lying 3'-downstream of the DHFR-gene, which includes two zones of DNA replication initiation, Ori-beta and Ori-gamma, and matrix attachment region (MAR). Using the method of hybridization with "protein images" we found that the yield of both core histones and histone H1 cross-linked with DNA in 5'-region of the DHFR-gene, in Ori-gamma and regions flanked from either side MAR is significantly decreased in comparison with 3'-transcribed region of the DHFR-gene, Ori-beta and MAR. It was shown previously that decreased yield of histones cross-linked with DNA is typical for 5'-region of actively transcribed genes. So, histone-DNA interactions in chromatin of the 5'-region of the house-keeping and moderately transcribed DHFR-gene, Ori-gamma and regions which flank MAR resemble those in 5'-regions of actively transcribed genes. Significant differences in amount of histones cross-linked with DNA in various parts of the DHFR-domain testify to high level of heterogeneity of chromatin structure in the domain.

Animals↗