Histone

(Noun. /HISS-tone/) 

by Gabrielle Quickstad

What does it mean? 

Histones are important proteins that enable the packaging of DNA into the cell nucleus of eukaryotes. These proteins not only condense DNA so that it fits into a tiny space, but also help turn genes off and on.

How do I use it in a sentence?

“If not for the packaging of histones, all of the DNA in your body would stretch hundreds of millions of miles!”

Histones organize into an octamer configuration. “Octamer” here means there are 8 histones stuck together. DNA wrapped around these octamers, and the DNA that connects one bundle to another is called a ‘nucleosome’. Nucleosomes are another additional level of organization beyond DNA’s double helix structure. Nucleosomes together form chromatin, and chromatin fibers make up chromosomes.

Related terms

DNA
Protein
Chromatin
Nucleosome

Fields of study in which this word is commonly used

Genetics
Epigenetics
Biochemistry
Molecular biology

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