Chromatin dynamics analysis using computer simulation

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Dynamic chromatin structure and function
• Project/Area Number: 25116003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (2016-2017); Japan Atomic Energy Agency (2013-2015)
• Principal Investigator: Kono Hidetoshi 国立研究開発法人量子科学技術研究開発機構, 関西光科学研究所 量子生命科学研究部, グループリーダー(定常) (40291918)
• Research Collaborator: LI Zhenhai
• Project Period (FY): 2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ヌクレオソーム / 分子動力学計算 / クロマチン / ヒストン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We studied impact of post-translational modifications of histones and histone variants on the structure and dynamics of mono-nucleosomes and poly-nucleosomes by integrating computer simulation and experimental data. We found that acetylation and methylation of H3 tails induce DNA dissociation from the histone core. We determined a novel nucleosome structure which is overlapping the typical 8-mer nucleosome and a 6-mer nucleosome which is missing one H2A-H2B heterodimer from the typical nucleosome. In addition, we found H4 tails play an important role in producing various packing forms of two nucleosomes, indicating that the way of the tail interactions yields a variety of chromatin conformations.

Free Research Field

生物物理、計算科学