Histones are basic nuclear proteins that are responsible for the nucleosome structure of the chromosomal fiber in eukaryotes. Two molecules of each of the four core histones (H2A, H2B, H3, and H4) form an octamer, around which approximately 146 bp of DNA is wrapped in repeating units, called nucleosomes. The linker histone, H1, interacts with linker DNA between nucleosomes and functions in the compaction of chromatin into higher order structures. This gene contains introns and its mRNA is polyadenylated, unlike most histone genes. The protein encoded by this gene is a replication-independent histone that is a member of the histone H3 family. Pseudogenes of this gene have been identified on the X chromosome, and on chromosomes 5, 13 and 17. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2015] CIViC Summary for H3-3B Gene
Forensic Context
A study in humans demonstrated that postmortem midbrain analysis of chronic cocaine abusers identified the H3-3B transcript as significantly upregulated 1.5-fold and diagnostic for cohort assignment [Bannon et al. DOI:10.1038/Npp.2014.70].