植物三维染色质构型研究进展

染色质在细胞核内的缠绕、折叠及其在细胞核内的空间排布是真核生物染色质构型的主要特征。在经典DNA探针荧光原位杂交显微观察的基础上,基于新一代测序技术的Hi-C及ChIA-PET染色质构型捕获技术已经被广泛应用于动物及植物细胞核染色质构型的研究中,并以新的角度定义了包括:染色体(质)域(chromosome territory)、A/B染色质区室(compartment A/B)、拓扑偶联结构域(topological associated domains,TADs)、染色质环(chromatin loops)等在内的多个更为精细的染色质构型。利用以上两种主流技术,越来越多的植物物种染色质构型特征被鉴定、分析和比较。本文系统分析和总结了近年来以植物细胞为模型的细胞核染色构型领域取得的重要成果,包括各级染色质构型特征的组成、建立机制和主要影响因素等。在此基础上,分析了目前研究植物染色质构型技术的瓶颈和突破性的技术进展,并对后续研究主要关注的问题和研究内容进行了展望,以期为相关领域的研究提供更多的理论参考和依据。

Chromatin architectural alterations due to null mutation of a major CG methylase in rice

Associations between 3D chromatin architectures and epigenetic modifications have been characterized in animals.However,any impact of DNA methylation on chromatin architecture in plants is understudied,which is confined to Arabidopsis thaliana.Because plant species differ in genome size,composition,and overall chromatin packing,it is unclear to what extent findings from A.thaliana hold in other species.Moreover,the incomplete chromatin architectural profiles and the low-resolution high-throughput chromosome conformation capture(Hi-C)data from A.thaliana have hampered characterizing its subtle chromatin structures and their associations with DNA methylation.We constructed a high-resolution Hi-C interaction map for the null OsMET1-2(the major CG methyltransferase in rice)mutant(osmet1-2)and isogenic wild-type rice(WT).Chromatin structural changes occurred in osmetl-2,including intra-/inter-chromosomal interactions,compartment transition,and topologically associated domains(TAD)variations.Our findings provide novel insights into the potential function of DNA methylation in TAD formation in rice and confirmed DNA methylation plays similar essential roles in chromatin packing in A,thaliana and rice.