Are glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans components of the eukaryotic genome?

THE eukaryotic genome is composed primarily of DNA and a complex and heterogeneous array of proteins. Evidence is rapidly accumulating to suggest that these chromosomal proteins are important in determining structural as well as functional properties of the genome1–6. In addition to being implicated in packaging of the cell's genetic information7–12, chromosomal proteins render limited and defined genetic sequences available for transcription13–23. But the specific properties and mode of interaction of genome components remain to be resolved. We present here evidence that several molecular weight classes of chromosomal proteins are glycoproteins. Furthermore, we report the association of glycosaminoglycans, another class of carbohydrate-containing macromolecules, with the eukaryotic genome.