Model outlining the histone chaperone-mediated nucleosome assembly process illustrated in free-energy reaction diagram.

<p>Only the nucleosome assembly process is chosen for analysis using tethered particle motion experiment. The discreet decrease in the BM amplitude signals the formation of tetrasome, which is known to be the rate limited step of nucleosome formation, and this is represented by k_a. The proposed reaction scheme is plotted showing reactant (DNA and histone, middle) and product (precipitation, left, or tetrasome, right). Based on our findings, it would seem that histone chaperone stabilizes the histones and facilitates the formation of enthalpy-favored nucleosomal complexes with free histones as reaction substrates.