Types of Histones

Five types of histones have been identified: H1 (or H5), H2A, H2B, H3 and H4, the core histones are H2A, H2B, H3, and H4, and the linker histones are H1 and H5. H1 and its homologous protein H5 are involved in higher-order structures of chromatin. The other four types of histones associate with DNA to form nucleosomes. H1 (or H5) has about 220 residues. Other types of histones are smaller, each consisting of 100-150 residues.