: 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
Examples of histone in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
My lab has identified, cloned, and characterized some of the key enzymes that modify histones [a type of protein that plays a central role in epigenetic regulation].
—
Dominique Mosbergen,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
Research by Lakadamyali has revealed, for instance, that the DNA-histone strings of beads organize into much more variable structures than scientists had assumed, with some regions of DNA more tightly packed than others.
—
Katarina Zimmer,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Aug. 2025
In early embryonic cells, as developmental decisions are made that direct cells to become ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm, all of the epigenetic marks on the histones get repositioned.
—
Viviane Callier,
Quanta Magazine,
21 Mar. 2025
Within each cell, the scientists were able to map out changes to histones, proteins that help control the release of other proteins called cytokines, which help regulate inflammation and can impact pregnancy, according to the study.
—
Sharon Udasin,
The Hill,
29 Nov. 2024
Some of that information is modified by histone proteins that wrap around DNA.
—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes,
1 Nov. 2024
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Dominique Mosbergen,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
Research by Lakadamyali has revealed, for instance, that the DNA-histone strings of beads organize into much more variable structures than scientists had assumed, with some regions of DNA more tightly packed than others.
—
Katarina Zimmer,
JSTOR Daily,
14 Aug. 2025
In early embryonic cells, as developmental decisions are made that direct cells to become ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm, all of the epigenetic marks on the histones get repositioned.
—
Viviane Callier,
Quanta Magazine,
21 Mar. 2025
Within each cell, the scientists were able to map out changes to histones, proteins that help control the release of other proteins called cytokines, which help regulate inflammation and can impact pregnancy, according to the study.
—
Sharon Udasin,
The Hill,
29 Nov. 2024
Some of that information is modified by histone proteins that wrap around DNA.
—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes,
1 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Histone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/histone. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
histone
noun
his·tone
ˈhis-ˌtōn 
: 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
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