DNA folding patterns

Decoding DNA folding patterns

April 12, 2012

Schematic illustrating topological domains and resulting directional bias. A: Interactions upstreamp; B: Interactions downstream (credit: Jesse R. Dixon et al./Nature)

Using a powerful DNA sequencing methodology, researchers at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research have investigated the three-dimensional structure of DNA folds in the nucleus of a chromosome.

“With the knowledge of how DNA folds inside the nucleus, we now have a more complete picture of the regulatory process of genes,”said Dr. Bing Ren, Member of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of California, San Diego.

“That is the primary reason we sought to tackle this problem.”

The spatial organization is intimately linked to its role in the body. The findings provide scientists with a greater understanding about the basic principles of DNA folding and its role in gene regulation./.../