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Glite Dictionary
linker histone

linker histone

7.5
A protein that helps fold and hold DNA inside the cell nucleus
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : histona de enlace
  • The linker histone H1 helps organize DNA structure within the cell nucleus.

Examples

  • The linker histone plays a crucial role in DNA packaging.

  • Researchers studied how linker histones influence chromatin compaction in different cell types.

  • Mutations in the linker histone gene can disrupt normal patterns of gene expression.

  • Many cells use linker histones for chromatin structure.

  • The linker histone H1 helps organize DNA structure within the cell nucleus.

  • Researchers studied how linker histones influence chromatin compaction in different cell types.

  • Mutations in the linker histone gene can disrupt normal patterns of gene expression.

Synonyms

histone
vslinker histone
  • Specialized
4 7.4

A small protein in the cell nucleus that helps pack DNA

belong to a specific subtype that binds nucleosomes and aids DNA packaging into chromatin

Surface Forms

linker histone singular
linker histones plural

Morphology

linker + histone

The term is a straightforward noun compound: 'linker' (a short flexible spacer) modifies 'histone' (a DNA‑packaging protein), so the phrase denotes a histone that acts as a linker between nucleosomes and helps package DNA. Although the vocabulary is technical, the meaning is compositionally predictable from the constituents, so a learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's sense.

Etymology

Linker histone is the name for a small protein; linker shows its job of 'linking' and histone is the protein that DNA wraps around. Think of DNA as beads on a string and the linker histone as a tiny clip between the beads that helps 'pack' the string tightly inside the cell, so the name describes its job.