The function and organization of chromosomes in the cell nucleus are communicated by two ways. It has been shown that the organization of chromosomal DNA into loops regulates the function of genes. A new interplay known to be important in avoiding diseases was revealed by the new results.
The three-dimensional organization of chromosomes in the cell nucleus is governed by mechanisms that read genes. They limit the progress of the cohesin by folding it into loops. Understanding the function of a healthy cell can be difficult. In a medical perspective, folding is important for several cellular processes that protect chromosomes against disease-promoting aberrations.
"Our findings of this two-way communication opens new perspectives of chromosome organization and the role of cohesin in genome function and stability," says Professor Camilla Bjrkegren, who is one of the authors of the publication.
The study was done using yeast as a model and using Hi-C analysis to look at the interaction between the chromosomes. The basic principles of chromosome organization and function are the same in both yeast and humans.
The structure of the helix will be included in the analysis as preliminary results show that structural alterations in the double helix are related to the reading and copying mechanisms. They suggest that the basis for the 3D-organization can be found in the spiral structure of the DNA.
More information: Kristian Jeppsson et al, Cohesin-dependent chromosome loop extrusion is limited by transcription and stalled replication forks, Science Advances (2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn7063 Journal information: Science Advances
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