Transcription dynamics stabilizes nucleus-like layer structure in chromatin brush

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Tetsuya Yamamoto - , Nagoya University (Author)
  • Helmut Schiessel - , Nagoya University, Leiden University (Author)

Abstract

We use a brush of DNA in a solution of transcriptional machinery and histone proteins to theoretically predict that this brush shows phase separation due to the instability arising from the disassembly of nucleosomes during transcription. In the two-phase coexistent state, collapsed chains (with relatively large nucleosome occupancy) lie at the grafting surface and swollen chains (with relatively small nucleosome occupancy) are distributed at the space above the collapsed chains, analogous to the structure of chromatin in differentiated cells. This layer structure is stabilized by the lateral osmotic pressure of swollen chains. For a relatively small grafting density, DNA brushes show tricritical points because the entropic elasticity with respect to the lateral excursion of swollen chains balances with the lateral osmotic pressure of these chains. At the tricritical points, DNA brushes show large fluctuations of local nucleosome concentration, which may be reminiscent of the fluctuations observed in embryonic stem cells.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5307-5316
Number of pages10
JournalSoft matter
Volume13
Issue number31
Publication statusPublished - 2017
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 28686262

Keywords