Comprehensive mapping of long-range interactions reveals folding principles of the human genome.

ABSTRACT: We describe Hi-C, a method that probes the three-dimensional architecture of whole genomes by coupling proximity-based ligation with massively parallel sequencing. We constructed spatial proximity maps of the human genome with Hi-C at a resolution of 1 megabase. These maps confirm the presence of chromosome territories and the spatial proximity of small, gene-rich chromosomes. We identified an additional level of genome organization that is characterized by the spatial segregation of open and closed chromatin to form two genome-wide compartments. At the megabase scale, the chromatin conformation is consistent with a fractal globule, a knot-free, polymer conformation that enables maximally dense packing while preserving the ability to easily fold and unfold any genomic locus. The fractal gl

SUBMITTER: Lieberman-Aiden E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2858594 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature