The Effects of Nucleosome Spacing on DNA Accessibility
Cellular and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Aleksander Torres Mendoza
Arely Sandoval Baldenebro
- Grade:
- 11
- Teacher:
- Tamora Taylor
Background: DNA in cells is not left loose; it is packaged around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes. Each nucleosome looks like a bead on a string of DNA. This packaging helps fit DNA inside the nucleus but also affects gene accessibility, tightly packed DNA is harder for proteins to reach and use, while loosely packed DNA is more accessible. In this experiment, a physical model using string and beads is used to represent DNA and nucleosomes. By changing how close the beads are we can see how nucleosome spacing changes accessibility of DNA sites.