Pericentromeric heterochromatin is hierarchically organized and spatially contacts H3K9me2 islands in euchromatin.

ABSTRACT: Membraneless pericentromeric heterochromatin (PCH) domains play vital roles in chromosome dynamics and genome stability. However, our current understanding of 3D genome organization does not include PCH domains because of technical challenges associated with repetitive sequences enriched in PCH genomic regions. We investigated the 3D architecture of Drosophila melanogaster PCH domains and their spatial associations with the euchromatic genome by developing a novel analysis method that incorporates genome-wide Hi-C reads originating from PCH DNA. Combined with cytogenetic analysis, we reveal a hierarchical organization of the PCH domains into distinct "territories." Strikingly, H3K9me2-enriched regions embedded in the euchromatic genome show prevalent 3D interactions with the PCH domain. Th

SUBMITTER: Lee YCG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7147806 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature