To reach these conclusions released in Science, researchers from CNRS, the Curie Institute, and Sorbonne University, operating in the Nuclear Dynamics, Physical Chemistry and Cell Biology, and Cancer labs, in collaboration with researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, attached magnetic nanoparticles to a little portion of a chromosome in a living cell. They extended the chromosome, putting in different degrees of force, thanks to a micro-magnet outside the cell. Utilizing this technique, the groups managed to determine the action of a chromosome to external forces, for the extremely first time in a living cell.
Through these experiments, the scientists had the ability to see that the range of forces exerted naturally in the nucleus– for instance by enzymes replicating DNA– is adequate to substantially modify the conformation of a chromosome. This major discovery, at the user interface between physics and biology, changes the hitherto established representation of chromosomes. It also includes new aspects to our understanding of biological processes, the biophysics of chromosomes, and the organization of the genome.
Reference: “Live-cell micromanipulation of a genomic locus reveals interphase chromatin mechanics” by Veer I. P. Keizer, Simon Grosse-Holz, Maxime Woringer, Laura Zambon, Koceila Aizel, Maud Bongaerts, Fanny Delille, Lorena Kolar-Znika, Vittore F. Scolari, Sebastian Hoffmann, Edward J. Banigan, Leonid A. Mirny, Maxime Dahan, Daniele Fachinetti and Antoine Coulon, 28 July 2022, Science.DOI: 10.1126/ science.abi9810.
They discovered that, outside of cell division phases, chromosomes are actually really fluid– almost liquid– by subjecting to various forces utilizing magnets. They stretched the chromosome, putting in different degrees of force, thanks to a micro-magnet outside the cell. Utilizing this method, the teams handled to measure the response of a chromosome to external forces, for the really first time in a living cell.
The research study discovered that chromosomes are fluid, nearly liquid, beyond their department phases.
Chromosome manipulation in live cells indicates that they are fluid.
Researchers from CNRS, the Curie Institute, and Sorbonne University have effectively physically acted on chromosomes in live cells for the very first time. They found that, beyond cellular division phases, chromosomes are in fact extremely fluid– almost liquid– by subjecting to different forces using magnets. The study was recently published in the distinguished journal Science.
When they are not in their division phases, chromosomes are fluid, though not quite liquid. This discovery was enabled by the first-ever direct mechanical control of chromosomes in the nucleus of live cells.
Previously, chromosomes, which are extraordinarily long DNA molecules, were represented as knotted like loose balls of yarn and developing a sort of gel. This brand-new publications findings provide an entirely various image. Chromosomes are totally free and fluid to move, unlimited by the other parts that make up the nucleus and can reorganize themselves.