Recent advances in single molecule studies of nucleosomes

► DNA unzipping reveals the detailed histone-DNA interactions within a nucleosome. ► A novel nucleosome disassembly intermediate is observed using smFRET. ► Distinct PTMs in a nucleosome separately regulate unwrapping rates and disassembly. ► Chromatin higher order structures are identified for various linker DNA lengths. ► Pol II may transcribe through the nucleosome using a Brownian ratchet mechanism.