histone

/ˈhɪstoʊn/

UK: /ˈhɪstəʊn/

histone

English Noun

Definition

Any of various simple water-soluble proteins that are rich in the basic amino acids lysine and arginine and are complexed with DNA in the nucleosomes of eukaryotic chromatin.

Etymology

Borrowed from German Histon, perhaps from Ancient Greek ἵστημι (hístēmi, “make stand”) or ἱστός (histós, “loom”).