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Multiple Choice
In the context of cell signaling and chromatin structure, how many total polypeptide chains are present in a single nucleosome core particle?
A
2
B
8
C
16
D
4
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structure of a nucleosome core particle: A nucleosome consists of DNA wrapped around a core of histone proteins. The histone core is made up of eight polypeptide chains.
Recall the composition of histones: The histone core is formed by two copies each of four types of histones: H2A, H2B, H3, and H4. This totals to 8 polypeptide chains.
Visualize the arrangement: The histones are organized in pairs, forming a histone octamer. DNA wraps around this octamer to form the nucleosome.
Relate the polypeptide chains to the nucleosome core particle: Since each histone protein is a polypeptide chain, the total number of polypeptide chains in the nucleosome core particle is 8.
Confirm the answer: Based on the structure and composition of the nucleosome core particle, the correct number of polypeptide chains is 8.