Premium
Higher order chromatin architecture in the cell nucleus: on the way from structure to function
Author(s) -
Cremer Thomas,
Küpper Katrin,
Dietzel Steffen,
Fakan Stanislav
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1016/j.biolcel.2004.07.002
Subject(s) - chromatin , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , rna splicing , cell nucleus , precursor mrna , nucleus , chia pet , scaffold/matrix attachment region , computational biology , chromatin remodeling , genetics , rna , gene
The cell nucleus is a highly compartmentalized structure. In this review we describe controversial views on higher order chromatin organization from the level of higher order chromatin domains built up from folded chromatin fibers to the level of chromosome territories and the interchromatin compartment (IC), which harbors non‐chromatin nuclear domains, such as interchromatin granule clusters (IGCs visualized in the electron microscope) or splicing factor‐containing speckles (visualized by fluorescence microscopy). Emphasis is laid on the definition and functional importance of a nuclear compartment located at the periphery of chromatin domains in direct contact with the IC, termed the perichromatin region (PR). Ongoing experiments to elucidate the topological relationships between PR and IC have provided new insights into the functional interplay between transcription and splicing. As an example, we discuss the structure and nuclear topology of perichromatin fibrils (FPs) contained in the PR and their functional interplay with IGCs/speckles. In addition we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of experimental approaches currently used to study nuclear architecture and function in fixed and living cells.