A bacteriophage RNA polymerase transcribes in vitro through a nucleosome core without displacing it.

Small linear DNA molecules containing histone octamers (nucleosome cores) are transcribed by SP6 RNA polymerase with only slightly lower efficiency than naked DNA templates. The position of the histone octamer on the DNA remains unchanged even after multiple passages by the polymerase. The histone octamer is not released even transiently from the DNA by polymerase transit. We conclude that histone octamers do not impede transcription elongation.