ChromEMT: visualizing and reconstructing chromatin ultrastructure and 3D organization in situ.

ABSTRACT: Structure determines function. The discovery of the DNA double-helix structure revealed how genetic information is stored and copied. In the mammalian cell nucleus, up to two meters of DNA is compacted by histones to form nucleosome/DNA particle chains that form euchromatin and heterochromatin domains, chromosome territories and mitotic chromosomes upon cell division. A critical question is what are the structures, interactions and 3D organization of DNA as chromatin in the nucleus and how do they determine DNA replication timing, gene expression and ultimately cell fate. To visualize genomic DNA across these different length scales in the nucleus, we developed ChromEMT, a method that selectively enhances the electron density and contrast of DNA and interacting nucleosome particles, which

SUBMITTER: Ou HD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12928153 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature