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XB-ART-50461
J Biol Chem 2014 Sep 26;28939:27342-27351. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M114.595140.
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A distinct switch in interactions of the histone H4 tail domain upon salt-dependent folding of nucleosome arrays.

Pepenella S , Murphy KJ , Hayes JJ .


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The core histone tail domains mediate inter-nucleosomal interactions that direct folding and condensation of nucleosome arrays into higher-order chromatin structures. The histone H4 tail domain facilitates inter-array interactions by contacting both the H2A/H2B acidic patch and DNA of neighboring nucleosomes. Likewise, H4 tail-H2A contacts stabilize array folding. However, whether the H4 tail domains stabilize array folding via inter-nucleosomal interactions with the DNA of neighboring nucleosomes remains unclear. We utilized defined oligonucleosome arrays containing a single specialized nucleosome with a photo-inducible cross-linker in the N terminus of the H4 tail to characterize these interactions. We observed that the H4 tail participates exclusively in intra-array interactions with DNA in unfolded arrays. These interactions are diminished during array folding, yet no inter-nucleosome, intra-array H4 tail-DNA contacts are observed in condensed chromatin. However, we document contacts between the N terminus of the H4 tail and H2A. Installation of acetylation mimics known to disrupt H4-H2A surface interactions did not increase observance of H4-DNA inter-nucleosomal interactions. These results suggest the multiple functions of the H4 tail require targeted distinct interactions within condensed chromatin.

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Species referenced: Xenopus
Genes referenced: h2ac21 h2bc21 h4c4

References [+] :
Allahverdi, The effects of histone H4 tail acetylations on cation-induced chromatin folding and self-association. 2011, Pubmed