Question

Which of the following correctly describes prokaryotic DNA?

Options

• Circular, negatively charged, and not associated with histones

• Circular, positively charged, and packaged into nucleosomes

• Linear, positively charged, and wrapped around histone octamers

• Linear, negatively charged, and organised by NHC proteins only

Answer 1

Prokaryotic DNA is circular in form and negatively charged due to its phosphate backbone. Unlike eukaryotic DNA, prokaryotic DNA is not associated with histone proteins but instead is compacted through supercoiling and looping mechanisms assisted by proteins such as HU proteins, DNA gyrase, and topoisomerase I.