Eukaryotic genomes consist of chromatin—an intricate complex of proteins and DNA. Chromatin's basic unit, the nucleosome, includes roughly 147 base pairs of DNA encircling a histone octamer. Surprisingly, chromatin manifests considerable plasticity and rich phase behavior across all levels of its hierarchical structure. Nucleosomes can spontaneously display 'breathing' motions and migrate along the genome. A shift in the orientation of nucleosome-nucleosome interactions can lead to different chromatin fibers possessing unique physical properties. Moreover, chromatin interactions—whether direct or protein-mediated— can instigate phase separation resulting in liquid chromatin condensates. For chromatin to serve its purpose in the cell, its structural dynamics must be regulated. This control can be exerted directly through epigenetic factors like histone tail modifications, linker histone, and the length of linker DNA, or indirectly via interactions with other nucleosome/DNA binding proteins.
Given its complex hierarchical architecture, a multiscale approach is needed for a thorough understanding of chromatin. We welcome research submissions—experimental, theoretical, or computational—that probe the structure and dynamics of chromatin at one or multiple scales (such as single nucleosomes, chromatin fibers, condensates, chromosomes). Our ultimate aim is to decipher the physical laws controlling chromatin's structural dynamics and its structure-function relationships within the cell. We're particularly interested in research that enhances our comprehension of chromatin modulation via epigenetic modifications, the interplay between chromatin structure and transcription factor binding/condensation, and the condensed yet liquid nature of chromatin. We welcome discussions on findings from in vitro experiments and modeling studies within the context of genomic functions, like the genome accessibility to regulatory factors and communication between distant cis-regulatory elements."
The physical principles of chromatin organization
The modulation of chromatin structure and dynamics by epigenetic modifications
The relationship between the structure of chromatin and its function in the cell
The interactions between chromatin and other DNA-binding proteins, and how they can influence each other
The architecture of chromatin over the multiple scales of its hierarchical organization
The structure and dynamics of nucleosomes as the fundamental units of chromatin
The liquid nature of chromatin
Keywords: Nucleosomes, Chromatin structure, Genome organization, DNA structure, Multiscale methods
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