echemi logo
Product
  • Product
  • Supplier
  • Inquiry
    Home > Biochemistry News > Biotechnology News > Supercomputer reveals how the X chromosome is folded and inactivated

    Supercomputer reveals how the X chromosome is folded and inactivated

    • Last Update: 2021-10-19
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
    Search more information of high quality chemicals, good prices and reliable suppliers, visit www.echemi.com


    Image: In a new visualization of X chromosome inactivation, RNA particles are clustered on the X chromosome of a mouse


    Image source: Los Alamos National Laboratory

    Using supercomputer-driven dynamic modeling based on experimental data, researchers can now explore the process of closing an X chromosome in female mammalian embryos


    "This is the first time we have been able to simulate all RNA that spreads around chromosomes and shuts them down," said a visiting scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard.


    This model is considered four-dimensional because it shows movement, including time in the fourth dimension, and it runs on the Los Alamos supercomputer


    In visualization, RNA particles are clustered on the X chromosome


    Jeannie T.


    Epigenetics is the study of gene expression and genetic trait changes that do not involve mutations in the genome


    Li said: "What this field lacks is a way to allow users who are not good at computing to interact with chromosomes


    Based on the work summary Los Alamos is currently developing a Google Chrome Earth->


    In mammals, a female embryo has two X chromosomes, one inherited from the parents


    Lee said the new Los Alamos model will promote a deeper understanding of gene expression and related issues, which may lead to drug treatments for various genetic diseases and disorders


    "Our main goal is to observe changes in the shape of chromosomes and changes in gene expression levels over time," Sanbonmatsu said


    Sanbonmatsu said that to understand how genes turn on and off, “understanding the structure of chromosomes is really helpful


    Li compared the structure of chromosomes to "origami


    The model shows various substructures in chromosomes


    The model also showed that genes on the chromosome surface escaped X chromosome inactivation, confirming early experimental work
    .
    In the model, they are clustered on the surface of chromosomes, apparently interacting or working together
    .

    In another point of view of the model, "When the chromosome goes from an active X, when it is still quite large, to a compact inactive X, which is smaller, we noticed that there is a very dense core of the chromosome.
    , But the surface density is much smaller
    .
    We also see more movement on the surface," Lapala said
    .
    "Then there is an intermediate region, which is not too fast or slow, where the chromosomes can be rearranged
    .
    "

    The inactive protein X is then activated in a process called "age-related inactive protein X activation
    .
    " "Some studies have tried to pharmacologically activate the inactive X chromosomes and give them what is missing on the active X chromosomes to treat children's neurological diseases
    .
    For example, a child may have a mutation
    that causes the disease .
    We believe that if We can reactivate the normal copy of the inactive X chromosome, and then we can perform epigenetic treatment of this mutation
    .
    "

    Original search:

    "4D chromosome reconstruction elucidates the spatial reorganization of the mammalian X-chromosome," in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
    Anna Lappala, Chen Yu Wang, Andrea Kriz, Hunter Michalk, Kevin Tan, Jeannie Lee, and Karissa Sanbonmatsu.
    An embargo copy is available from  PNAS  through  https:// .
      


    This article is an English version of an article which is originally in the Chinese language on echemi.com and is provided for information purposes only. This website makes no representation or warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness ownership or reliability of the article or any translations thereof. If you have any concerns or complaints relating to the article, please send an email, providing a detailed description of the concern or complaint, to service@echemi.com. A staff member will contact you within 5 working days. Once verified, infringing content will be removed immediately.

    Contact Us

    The source of this page with content of products and services is from Internet, which doesn't represent ECHEMI's opinion. If you have any queries, please write to service@echemi.com. It will be replied within 5 days.

    Moreover, if you find any instances of plagiarism from the page, please send email to service@echemi.com with relevant evidence.