DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Phase Transitions in Cells and the Structure of Chromatins

세포에서의 상전이와 크로마틴 구조

  • Published : 2018.03.31

Abstract

Phase transition is not unique to solid state systems or homogeneous molecular systems but it is also observed in highly heterogeneous biological systems. Phase transition and phase separation in cells are recently being found to be central to many biological functions by temporarily and locally controlling the storage and exchange of certain proteins and RNAs. There are also clues suggesting them to be playing pivotal roles in the spatial organization of chromosomes into topological domains and its time-dependent control. Here we introduce early efforts to explain at the molecular level how the spatiotemporal organization of chromosomes are programmed and modulated by the sequence and chemical modifications of the DNA. Continuing works may provide a physical framework to understand the molecular level control of chromosome structure and dynamics that determine the epigenetic state and the fate of the cells.

Keywords

References

  1. Brangwynne, C. P., C. R. Eckmann, D. S. Courson, A. Rybarska, C. Hoege, J. Gharakhani, F. Jülicher and A. A. Hyman (2009). "Germline P Granules Are Liquid Droplets That Localize by Controlled Dissolution/ Condensation." Science 324(5935): 1729-1732. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1172046
  2. Hyman, A. A., C. A. Weber and F. Julicher (2014). "Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Biology." Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology 30(1): 39-58. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100913-013325
  3. Jain, A. and R. D. Vale (2017). "RNA phase transitions in repeat expansion disorders." Nature 546: 243. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature22386
  4. Lieberman-Aiden, E., N. L. van Berkum, L. Williams, M. Imakaev, T. Ragoczy, A. Telling, I. Amit, B. R. Lajoie, P. J. Sabo, M. O. Dorschner, R. Sandstrom, B. Bernstein, M. A. Bender, M. Groudine, A. Gnirke, J. Stamatoyannopoulos, L. A. Mirny, E. S. Lander and J. Dekker (2009). "Comprehensive Mapping of Long-Range Interactions Reveals Folding Principles of the Human Genome." Science 326(5950): 289- 293. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1181369
  5. Strom, A. R., A. V. Emelyanov, M. Mir, D. V. Fyodorov, X. Darzacq and G. H. Karpen (2017). "Phase separation drives heterochromatin domain formation." Nature 547: 241. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature22989
  6. Yoo, J., H. Kim, A. Aksimentiev and T. Ha (2016). "Direct evidence for sequence-dependent attraction between double-stranded DNA controlled by methylation." Nature Communications 7: 11045. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11045