# histone

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/histone
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a protein that helps hold DNA together in a neat, organized shape inside your cells. It acts like a spool that DNA wraps around to keep it from getting tangled.

For teachers: a protein that provides structural support for the DNA in eukaryotic cells. These proteins form the core of nucleosomes, around which the DNA double helix is wound to facilitate compaction and gene regulation.

## Examples

- The DNA wraps around a histone to stay organized.
- Changes in the chemical tags on a histone can affect how tightly the DNA is packed, which in turn controls which genes are active.
- Epigenetic modifications to the histone tails can alter the accessibility of the underlying DNA, effectively turning genes on or off without changing the actual sequence of the genetic code.

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