Histones (N/A)

Histones are a family of alkaline proteins found in the nuclei of eukaryotic cells, serving as the major structural components of chromosomes. Their primary function is to provide structural support for chromosomes by enabling the efficient packaging and organization of DNA within the cell nucleus. This compaction is essential because each chromosome contains a long DNA molecule that must fit into a small nuclear space. They regulate gene expression via chemical modifications and the basic structure—a nucleosome—is formed from eight core histone proteins wrapped by ~147 bp of DNA. These properties make histones essential for both normal cellular function and understanding disease mechanisms related to epigenetic dysregulation such as cancer or developmental disorders.

Other names

Core histonesLinker histonesH2AH2BH3H4H1H5

Modulation of histone modifications (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation) to alter gene expression.