Biomaterial Database

DNA superstructural features and nucleosomal organization of the two centromeres of Kluyveromyces lactis chromosome 1 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome 6. 1998

M Del Cornò, and P De Santis, and B Sampaolese, and M Savino

Instituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy.

Superstructural features of the Kluyveromyces lactis chromosome 1 (KlCEN1) and of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome 6 (SCEN6) centromeric DNAs were evaluated using a theoretical method, developed by our group, and experimentally measured by gel electrophoretic retardation. Both methods show that, in spite of the remarkable AT richness of the two centromeric sequences, their curvature is not very high. However the peculiar sequence features of the two centromeres allow to organize highly stable nucleosomes, with a free energy about that of the nucleosome formed on the 5S RNA gene. The good agreement between experimental and theoretical evaluation of nucleosome free energies as well as of their multiple positioning shows that in centromeres both DNA curvature and flexibility are relevant in determining nucleosomal features.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007716	Kluyveromyces	An ascomycetous yeast of the fungal family Saccharomycetaceae, order SACCHAROMYCETALES.	Kluyveromyce
D008956	Models, Chemical	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of chemical processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Chemical Models,Chemical Model,Model, Chemical
D009690	Nucleic Acid Conformation	The spatial arrangement of the atoms of a nucleic acid or polynucleotide that results in its characteristic 3-dimensional shape.	DNA Conformation,RNA Conformation,Conformation, DNA,Conformation, Nucleic Acid,Conformation, RNA,Conformations, DNA,Conformations, Nucleic Acid,Conformations, RNA,DNA Conformations,Nucleic Acid Conformations,RNA Conformations
D009707	Nucleosomes	The repeating structural units of chromatin, each consisting of approximately 200 base pairs of DNA wound around a protein core. This core is composed of the histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4.	Dinucleosomes,Polynucleosomes,Dinucleosome,Nucleosome,Polynucleosome
D002503	Centromere	The clear constricted portion of the chromosome at which the chromatids are joined and by which the chromosome is attached to the spindle during cell division.	Centromeres
D004271	DNA, Fungal	Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of fungi.	Fungal DNA
D012441	Saccharomyces cerevisiae	A species of the genus SACCHAROMYCES, family Saccharomycetaceae, order Saccharomycetales, known as "baker's" or "brewer's" yeast. The dried form is used as a dietary supplement.	Baker's Yeast,Brewer's Yeast,Candida robusta,S. cerevisiae,Saccharomyces capensis,Saccharomyces italicus,Saccharomyces oviformis,Saccharomyces uvarum var. melibiosus,Yeast, Baker's,Yeast, Brewer's,Baker Yeast,S cerevisiae,Baker's Yeasts,Yeast, Baker
D013816	Thermodynamics	A rigorously mathematical analysis of energy relationships (heat, work, temperature, and equilibrium). It describes systems whose states are determined by thermal parameters, such as temperature, in addition to mechanical and electromagnetic parameters. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12th ed)	Thermodynamic
D015825	Chromosomes, Fungal	Structures within the nucleus of fungal cells consisting of or containing DNA, which carry genetic information essential to the cell.	Chromosome, Fungal,Fungal Chromosome,Fungal Chromosomes