histone

noun Biochemistry.

1. any of a group of five small basic proteins, occurring in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, that organize DNA strands into nucleosomes by forming molecular complexes around which the DNA winds.

noun

1. any of a group of basic proteins present in cell nuclei and implicated in the spatial organization of DNA

n.

1885, from German histon (1884); see histo- + -one.

n.

1. Any of several small simple proteins that are most commonly found in association with the DNA in chromatin and contain a high proportion of basic amino acids.

1. Any of several proteins that, together with DNA, make up most of the chromatin in a cell nucleus.