Linker histone H1 functions as a liquid-like glue to organize chromatin in living human cells
書誌事項
- 公開日
- 2025-03-06
- 資源種別
- preprint
- 権利情報
-
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
- DOI
-
- 10.1101/2025.03.05.641622
- 公開者
- openRxiv
説明
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p> Linker histone H1, the most abundant chromatin protein, condenses chromatin, modulates DNA transactions such as transcription and DNA replication/repair, and participates in differentiation, development and tumorigenesis. While recent studies indicate that nucleosomes are clustered as condensed chromatin domains in higher eukaryotic cells, how histone H1 mechanically condenses chromatin remains unclear. Here, using a combination of direct visualization of single-H1 molecules in living human cells and multiscale molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that the majority of H1 behaves like a liquid inside chromatin domains, rather than binding stably to nucleosomes as suggested by the traditional model. H1 functions as a liquid-like “glue”, mediating dynamic multivalent electrostatic interactions between nucleosomes within chromatin domains. Consistently, rapid-depletion of H1.2 leads to decondensed chromatin domains both in cells and <jats:italic>in silico</jats:italic> . Our findings suggest that the H1 “glue” condenses chromatin domains while keeping them fluid and accessible, thereby supporting essential DNA transactions. </jats:p>
