Nucleosome repositioning

The DNA-nucleosome interaction parameters are not known at present. In most of the theoretical work it is deemed negligible compared to the DNA-DNA and nucleosome-nucleosome interaction, except for a hard-core excluded volume interaction. Nevertheless, recent work on the mechanism of nucleosome repositioning [67] assumes that the DNA can dynamically detach from the nucleosome surface and reattach in different conformations, such that it is conceivable that distant DNA segments may also transiently bind to open regions of the DNA-binding surface of the nucleosome. 

In addition, the nucleus contains so-called chromatin remodeling factors, such as the Swi/Snf complex, which has the capacity to reposition nucleosomes and transiently dissociate the DNA from the surface of the nucleosome. Depending on the promoter context, chromatin remodeling factors may cause an activation or repression of transcription. 

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