Inter-chromosomal contact networks provide insights into Mammalian chromatin organization.

ABSTRACT: The recent advent of conformation capture techniques has provided unprecedented insights into the spatial organization of chromatin. We present a large-scale investigation of the inter-chromosomal segment and gene contact networks in embryonic stem cells of two mammalian organisms: humans and mice. Both interaction networks are characterized by a high degree of clustering of genome regions and the existence of hubs. Both genomes exhibit similar structural characteristics such as increased flexibility of certain Y chromosome regions and co-localization of centromere-proximal regions. Spatial proximity is correlated with the functional similarity of genes in both species. We also found a significant association between spatial proximity and the co-expression of genes in the human genome. The

SUBMITTER: Kaufmann S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4427453 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature