histone

Term: histone

Literally meaning : portion of a warp

Origin: Anc Greek

ιστός / histos(=warp, web) > ίστημι/istimi(=stand, inhibit)

–όνη/-one(=suffix denoting a "weaker" derivative) eg histone,

Coined/History

In 1874 Friedrich Miescher’s demonstating the existence of the alkali-labile and acid-insoluble material that he termed “nuclein” later identified DNA. Histones were discovered in 1884 by Albrecht Kossel who coined the term “histon” when he isolated acid-soluble proteins from bird erythrocyte nuclei.

Definition

Histones are five types proteins around which DNA playing a dominant role in regulating eukaryotic transcription.