Molecular visualization of the the Nucleosome

This web page uses the open-source Java Applet program Jmol, a proposed platform-independent replacement for Chime and Rasmol, neither of which is available in an OS X native version. You will need a relatively recent Java Virtual Machine to use it.

The buttons below are generally intended to be clicked in order.

This tutorial illustrates 1kx5.pdb, the high-resolution structure of the nucleosome by Richmond's group, 2002. The DNA is obviously highly bent. Histones H3 and H4 are in earth tones, H2A and H2B in sea tones. Note that the (H3/H4)2 tetramer binds both gyres near the dyad axis, whereas each H2A/H2B dimer binds mainly one gyre. The tails project out between the gyres. The lysines on histone tails are the sites of modifications. The arginines help bind DNA.

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