Issue 36, 2020

Polymer models for the mechanisms of chromatin 3D folding: review and perspective

Abstract

Recent experiments have provided unprecedented details on the hierarchical organization of the chromatin 3D structure and thus a great opportunity for understanding the mechanisms behind chromatin folding. As a bridge between experimental results and physical theory, coarse-grained polymer models of chromatin are of great value. Here, we review several popular models of chromatin folding, including the fractal globule model, loop models (the random loop model, the dynamic loop model, and the loop extrusion model), the string-and-binder switch model, and the block copolymer model. Physical models are still in great need to explain a larger variety of chromatin folding properties, especially structural features at different scales, their relation to the heterogeneous nature of the DNA sequence, and the highly dynamic nature of chromatin folding.

Graphical abstract: Polymer models for the mechanisms of chromatin 3D folding: review and perspective

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
07 ⵉⴱⵔ 2020
Accepted
29 ⵢⵓⵍ 2020
First published
06 ⵖⵓⵛ 2020

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020,22, 20189-20201

Polymer models for the mechanisms of chromatin 3D folding: review and perspective

R. Zhou and Y. Q. Gao, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 20189 DOI: 10.1039/D0CP01877E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements