In eukaryotic cells, DNA is wrapped around histones to form nucleosomes, which are further organized into the 30-nm chromatin fiber. A single-molecule study with homogeneous chromatin fibers now shows that the chromatin fiber behaves as a simple spring, stretching up to three times in response to pulling, a behavior indicative of a one-start helix structure. Linker histones stabilize the fiber but do not make it stiffer.
- Maarten Kruithof
- Fan-Tso Chien
- John van Noort
