Editorial: Probing the Chromatin Architecture

• Authors: Francesca Palombo, University of Exeter; Stefano Pagliara, University of Exeter; Ankur Singh, Georgia Institute of Technology; Richard Chahwan, University of Zurich
• Journal Title: FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
• Volume: Volume 9
• Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA | 2021-07-29, Pages 727803-727803
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.727803
• Subjects: Engineering, Mechanical; Engineering, Biomedical
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Cell Biology; Developmental Biology; chromatin organization; cell phenotyping; genome; cancer therapy; vibrational spectroscopy; imaging; confocal microscopy

Abstract

Chromatin architecture plays an essential role in gene regulation, cell differentiation, response to external cues, and disease progression, and hence can be used as a biomarker for cell phenotyping. Traditionally, methods based on confocal microscopy and imaging using fluorescent tags have been employed to study the chromatin architecture inside the nucleus by measuring the location and folding of chromosomes. However, existing methods lack specificity and/or are reliant on extrinsic labeling that prevents yielding structural information for chromatin in its native state by potentially interfering with ongoing biological processes. In this Research Topic, we focus on technical advancements in (i) measuring chromatin changes at the single-cell level, (ii) studying chromatin modification through DNA methylation, and (iii) visualizing chromatin by super-resolution microscopy. We also review the literature on (i) protein post-translational modifications and their impact on the scaffold/matrix interactions of the chromatin, (ii) advancements in using epigenomic biosensors during radiotherapy, and (iii) the effect of small molecule inhibitors on chromatin-associated cellular responses.