MAKE CONNECTIONS Although the proteins that cause the E. coli chromosome to coil are not histones, what property would you expect them to share with histones, given their ability to bind to DNA (see Figure 5.14)?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the question. The question is asking about the properties that the proteins causing the E. coli chromosome to coil share with histones, given their ability to bind to DNA.
2. Step 2: Recall what histones are. Histones are proteins that help package DNA into a compact, efficient form. They have a positive charge due to the presence of amino acids like lysine and arginine, which allows them to bind to the negatively charged DNA.
3. Step 3: Make a connection. Given that the proteins in E. coli also bind to DNA, we can infer that they must also have a property that allows them to interact with the negatively charged DNA. This property is likely a positive charge.
4. Step 4: Formulate the answer. Therefore, the property that the proteins causing the E. coli chromosome to coil would share with histones is a positive charge, which allows them to bind to the negatively charged DNA.
5. Step 5: Review the answer. Make sure the answer makes sense and fully addresses the question. The proteins in E. coli and histones both bind to DNA, so they must share a property that allows them to do so. In this case, that property is a positive charge.