Question

Histone proteins are positively charged because they are rich in basic amino acid residues

• A. Arginine and Proline
• B. Arginine and Alanine
• C. Arginine and Lysine
• D. Arginine and Phenylalanine

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The correct answer is (C) : Arginine and Lysine

Answer 2

Histone proteins are positively charged because they are rich in basic amino acid residues.

The correct answer is: (C) Arginine and Lysine.

Histone proteins are positively charged due to the high presence of basic amino acids, which contain amino groups that attract negatively charged molecules such as DNA. The amino acids Arginine and Lysine are particularly abundant in histone proteins and contribute to their positive charge.

These amino acids contain amino groups (-NH₂) in their side chains, which can form ionic bonds with the negatively charged phosphate groups of DNA. This interaction helps histones bind tightly to DNA, allowing them to package and organize the DNA into nucleosomes, which is crucial for the structure and function of chromosomes.

Thus, the positive charge of histone proteins is primarily due to the presence of Arginine and Lysine residues.