Open and closed domains in the mouse genome are configured as 10-nm chromatin fibres

Abstract

The mammalian genome is compacted to fit within the confines of the cell nucleus. DNA is wrapped around nucleosomes, forming the classic 'beads-on-A-string' 10-nm chromatin fibre. Ten-nanometre chromatin fibres are thought to condense into 30-nm fibres. This structural reorganization is widely assumed to correspond to transitions between active and repressed chromatin, thereby representing a chief regulatory event. Here, by combining electron spectroscopic imaging with tomography, three-dimensional images are generated, revealing that both open and closed chromatin domains in mouse somatic cells comprise 10-nm fibres. These findings indicate that the 30-nm chromatin model does not reflect the true regulatory structure in vivo. © 2012 European Molecular Biology Organization.