Histone Tail Conformations: A Fuzzy Affair with DNA

The core histone tails are critical in chromatin structure and signaling. Studies over the past several decades have provided a wealth of information on the his -tone tails and their interaction with chromatin factors. However, the conforma-tion of the histone tails in a chromatin relevant context has remained elusive. Only recently has enough evidence emerged to start to build a structural model of the tails in the context of nucleosomes and nucleosome arrays. Here, we review these studies and propose that the histone tails adopt a high-affinity fuzzy complex with DNA, characterized by robust but dynamic association. Fur-thermore, we discuss how these DNA-bound conformational ensembles pro -mote distinct chromatin structure and signaling, and that their fuzzy nature is important in transitioning between functional states.

Automated summary

The core histone tails are crucial for chromatin structure and signaling, yet their conformation in a chromatin context has been difficult to determine. Recent studies suggest that histone tails may form a high-affinity fuzzy complex with DNA in nucleosomes and nucleosome arrays, influencing chromatin structure and signaling transitions.