Histones and DNA Have a Strong Attraction for Each Other

Question

Histones and DNA have a strong attraction for each other because
A)DNA is positively charged and histones are negatively charged.
B)both DNA and proteins are hydrophobic.
C)DNA is negatively charged and histones are positively charged.
D)like substances share common charges.

Accepted Answer

DNA is negatively charged due to its phosphate backbone, while histones are positively charged because they contain a high proportion of positively charged amino acids (like lysine and arginine). This charge difference facilitates the strong electrostatic attraction between DNA and histones, enabling the formation of nucleosomes, the fundamental units of chromatin structure in eukaryotic cells.