Histones interact with DNA at specific loci because DNA has phosphate functional groups. This interaction occurs because histones have a net _ positive charge, which derives from their residues, and interact with DNA because of its net _____ charge.

Question

Histones interact with DNA at specific loci because DNA has phosphate functional groups. This interaction occurs because histones have a net _ positive charge, which derives from their residues, and interact with DNA because of its net _____ charge.

a. negative, basic, positive
b. negative, baseic, negative
c. negative, acidic, positive
d. positive, basic, negative
e. positive, acidic, negative

I know for sure that it is either "d" or "e" becaues histones have a net positive charge and DNA has a net negative charge. So, it all comes down to whether it's acidic or basic. I believe it is "e". (when they interact, do they end up with positive net charge? negative net charge? or neutral? if positive that should be basic and if negative, that should be acidic???????

You give me the below answer, but the question does not say that DNA is acidic. it says that histones have a net positive charge, which derives from their ________ residue. Do you think think that "acidic" is what needs to go to the blank.

"If DNA is an acid how can it have a negative charge? An acid is electon hungry. As an example take HCL
when it ionizes in water it becomes an acid where the H+ ions make it acidic. H+ is an ion that has a positive charge."

I found the following site and quote.

"The proteins associated with DNA are collectively known as histones. They are relatively short polypeptides which are positively charged (basic) and thus are attracted to the negatively charged (acidic) DNA."

Source:

(Broken Link Removed)

Answer 1

I apologize for any confusion caused. You are correct that histones have a net positive charge, and DNA has a net negative charge. The correct answer is option "d": positive, basic, negative. Histones have a net positive charge due to the presence of basic amino acid residues such as lysine and arginine. These positive charges on the histones interact with the negatively charged phosphate groups of the DNA molecule.

The interaction between the positively charged histones and the negatively charged DNA allows the DNA to wrap around the histones, forming a structure called a nucleosome. This packaging of DNA into nucleosomes helps to condense the DNA and allows for efficient packaging within the cell nucleus.

Histones interact with DNA at specific loci because DNA has phosphate functional groups. This interaction occurs because histones have a net _____ positive charge, which derives from their ______ residues, and interact with DNA because of its net _______ charge.

Histones interact with DNA at specific loci because DNA has phosphate functional groups. This interaction occurs because histones have a net _ positive charge, which derives from their residues, and interact with DNA because of its net _____ charge.