Influence of core histone acetylation on SV40 minichromosome replication in vitro

We have used the SV40 in vitro replication system to analyze the replication efficiencies of SV40 minichromosomes associated with normal or hyperacetylated histones. We found that elongation of replication occurs with higher efficiency in hyperacetylated minichromosomes in comparison with normal minichromosomes. Our results indicate that the movement of the replication machinery through nucleosomal DNA is facilitated by charge neutralization due to acetylation of the histone tails.