Three-dimensional organization of the human interphase nucleus: Experiments compared to simulations.

Despite the successful linear sequencing of the human genome its three-dimensional structure is widely unknown, although it is important for gene regulation and replication. For a long time the interphase nucleus has been viewed as a 'spaghetti soup' of DNA without much internal structure, except during cell division. Only recently has it become apparent that chromosomes occupy distinct 'territories' also in interphase. Two models for the detailed folding of the 30 nm chromatin fibre within these territories are under debate: In the Random- Walk/Giant-Loop-model big loops of 3 to 5 Mbp are attached to a non-DNA backbone. In the Multi-Loop- Subcompartment (MLS) model loops of around 120 kbp are forming rosettes which are also interconnected by the chromatin fibre. Here we show with a comparison between simulations and experiments an interdisciplinary approach leading to a determination of the three-dimensional organization of the human genome: For the predictions of experiments various models of human interphase chromosomes and the whole cell nucleus were simulated with Monte Carlo and Brownian Dynamics methods. Only the MLS-model leads to the formation of non-overlapping chromosome territories and distinct functional and dynamic subcompartments in agreement with experiments. Fluorescence in situ hybridization is used for the specific marking of chromosome arms and pairs of small chromosomal DNA regions. The labelling is visualized with confocal laser scanning microscopy followed by image reconstruction procedures. Chromosome arms show only small overlap and globular substructures as predicted by the MLS-model. The spatial distances between pairs of genomic markers as function of their genomic separation result in a MLS-model with loop and linker sizes around 126 kbp. With the development of GFP-fusion-proteins it is possible to study the chromatin distribution and dynamics resulting from cell cycle, treatment by chemicals or radiation in vivo. The chromatin distributions are similar to those found in the simulation of whole cell nuclei of the MLS-model. Fractal analysis is especially suited to quantify the unordered and non-euclidean chromatin distribution of the nucleus. The dynamic behaviour of the chromatin structure and the diffusion of particles in the nucleus are also closely connected to the fractal dimension. Fractal analysis of the simulations reveal the multi-fractality of chromosomes. First fractal analysis of chromatin distributions in vivo result in significant differences for different morphologies and might favour a MLS-modellike chromatin distribution. Simulations of fragment distributions based on double strand breakage after carbonion irradiation differ in different models. Here again a comparison with experiments favours a MLS-model

Three-dimensional organization of the human interphase nucleus

To approach the three-dimensional organization of the human cell nucleus, the structural-, scaling- and dynamic properties of interphase chromosomes and cell nuclei were simulated with Monte Carlo and Brownian Dynamics methods. The 30 nm chromatin fibre was folded according to the Multi-Loop-Subcompartment (MLS) model, in which ~100 kbp loops form rosettes, connected by a linker, and the Random-Walk/Giant-Loop (RW/GL) topology, in which 1-5 Mbp loops are attached to a flexible backbone. Both the MLS and the RW/GL model form chromosome territories but only the MLS rosettes result in distinct subcompartments visible with light microscopy and low overlap of chromosomes, -arms and subcompartments. This morphology and the size of subcompartments agree with the morphology found by expression of histone auto-fluorescent protein fusions and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments. Even small changes of the model parameters induced significant rearrangements of the chromatin morphology. Thus, pathological diagnoses based on this morphology, are closely related to structural changes on the chromatin level. The position of interphase chromosomes depends on their metaphase location, and suggests a possible origin of current experimental findings. The chromatin density distribution of simulated confocal (CLSM) images agrees with the MLS model and with recent experiments. The scaling behaviour of the chromatin fiber topology and morphology of CLSM stacks revealed fine-structured multi-scaling behaviour in agreement with the model prediction. Review and comparison of experimental to simulated spatial distance measurements between genomic markers as function of their genomic separation also favour an MLS model with loop and linker sizes of 63 to 126 kbp. Visual inspection of the morphology reveals also big spaces allowing high accessibility to nearly every spatial location, due to the chromatin occupancy <30% and a mean mesh spacing of 29 to 82 nm for nuclei of 6 to 12 µm diameter. The simulation of diffusion agreed with this structural prediction, since the mean displacement for 10 nm sized particles of ~1 to 2 µm takes place within 10 ms. Therefore, the diffusion of biological relevant tracers is only moderately obstructed, with the degree of obstruction ranging from 2.0 to 4.0 again in experimental agreement

Three-dimensional organization of the human interphase nucleus

To approach the three-dimensional organization of the human cell nucleus, the structural-, scaling- and dynamic properties of interphase chromosomes and cell nuclei were simulated with Monte Carlo and Brownian Dynamics methods. The 30 nm chromatin fibre was folded according to the Multi-Loop-Subcompartment (MLS) model, in which ~100 kbp loops form rosettes, connected by a linker, and the Random-Walk/Giant-Loop (RW/GL) topology, in which 1-5 Mbp loops are attached to a flexible backbone. Both the MLS and the RW/GL model form chromosome territories but only the MLS rosettes result in distinct subcompartments visible with light microscopy and low overlap of chromosomes, -arms and subcompartments. This morphology and the size of subcompartments agree with the morphology found by expression of histone auto-fluorescent protein fusions and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments. Even small changes of the model parameters induced significant rearrangements of the chromatin morphology. Thus, pathological diagnoses based on this morphology, are closely related to structural changes on the chromatin level. The position of interphase chromosomes depends on their metaphase location, and suggests a possible origin of current experimental findings. The chromatin density distribution of simulated confocal (CLSM) images agrees with the MLS model and with recent experiments. The scaling behaviour of the chromatin fiber topology and morphology of CLSM stacks revealed fine-structured multi-scaling behaviour in agreement with the model prediction. Review and comparison of experimental to simulated spatial distance measurements between genomic markers as function of their genomic separation also favour an MLS model with loop and linker sizes of 63 to 126 kbp. Visual inspection of the morphology reveals also big spaces allowing high accessibility to nearly every spatial location, due to the chromatin occupancy <30% and a mean mesh spacing of 29 to 82 nm for nuclei of 6 to 12 μm diameter. The simulation of diffusion agreed with this structural prediction, since the mean displacement for 10 nm sized particles of ~1 to 2 μm takes place within 10 ms. Therefore, the diffusion of biological relevant tracers is only moderately obstructed, with the degree of obstruction ranging from 2.0 to 4.0 again in experimental agreemen

Three-dimensional organization of the human interphase nucleus.

To approach the three-dimensional organization of the human cell nucleus, the structural-, scaling- and dynamic properties of interphase chromosomes and cell nuclei were simulated with Monte Carlo and Brownian Dynamics methods. The 30 nm chromatin fibre was folded according to the Multi-Loop-Subcompartment (MLS) model, in which ~100 kbp loops form rosettes, connected by a linker, and the Random-Walk/Giant-Loop (RW/GL) topology, in which 1-5 Mbp loops are attached to a flexible backbone. Both the MLS and the RW/GL model form chromosome territories but only the MLS rosettes result in distinct subcompartments visible with light microscopy and low overlap of chromosomes, -arms and subcompartments. This morphology and the size of subcompartments agree with the morphology found by expression of histone auto-fluorescent protein fusions and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments. Even small changes of the model parameters induced significant rearrangements of the chromatin morphology. Thus, pathological diagnoses based on this morphology, are closely related to structural changes on the chromatin level. The position of interphase chromosomes depends on their metaphase location, and suggests a possible origin of current experimental findings. The chromatin density distribution of simulated confocal (CLSM) images agrees with the MLS model and with recent experiments. The scaling behaviour of the chromatin fiber topology and morphology of CLSM stacks revealed fine-structured multi-scaling behaviour in agreement with the model prediction. Review and comparison of experimental to simulated spatial distance measurements between genomic markers as function of their genomic separation also favour an MLS model with loop and linker sizes of 63 to 126 kbp. Visual inspection of the morphology reveals also big spaces allowing high accessibility to nearly every spatial location, due to the chromatin occupancy <30% and a mean mesh spacing of 29 to 82 nm for nuclei of 6 to 12 μm diameter. The simulation of diffusion agreed with this structural prediction, since the mean displacement for 10 nm sized particles of ~1 to 2 μm takes place within 10 ms. Therefore, the diffusion of biological relevant tracers is only moderately obstructed, with the degree of obstruction ranging from 2.0 to 4.0 again in experimental agreement

Three-dimensional organization of the human interphase nucleus

Despite the successful linear sequencing of the human genome its three-dimensional structure is widely unknown, although it is important for gene regulation and replication. For a long time the interphase nucleus has been viewed as a 'spaghetti soup' of DNA without much internal structure, except during cell division. Only recently has it become apparent that chromosomes occupy distinct 'territories' also in interphase. Two models for the detailed folding of the 30 nm chromatin fibre within these territories are under debate: In the Random- Walk/Giant-Loop-model big loops of 3 to 5 Mbp are attached to a non-DNA backbone. In the Multi-Loop- Subcompartment (MLS) model loops of around 120 kbp are forming rosettes which are also interconnected by the chromatin fibre. Here we show with a comparison between simulations and experiments an interdisciplinary approach leading to a determination of the three-dimensional organization of the human genome: For the predictions of experiments various models of human interphase chromosomes and the whole cell nucleus were simulated with Monte Carlo and Brownian Dynamics methods. Only the MLS-model leads to the formation of non-overlapping chromosome territories and distinct functional and dynamic subcompartments in agreement with experiments. Fluorescence in situ hybridization is used for the specific marking of chromosome arms and pairs of small chromosomal DNA regions. The labelling is visualized with confocal laser scanning microscopy followed by image reconstruction procedures. Chromosome arms show only small overlap and globular substructures as predicted by the MLS-model. The spatial distances between pairs of genomic markers as function of their genomic separation result in a MLS-model with loop and linker sizes around 126 kbp. With the development of GFP-fusion-proteins it is possible to study the chromatin distribution and dynamics resulting from cell cycle, treatment by chemicals or radiation in vivo. The chromatin distributions are similar to those found in the simulation of whole cell nuclei of the MLS-model. Fractal analysis is especially suited to quantify the unordered and non-euclidean chromatin distribution of the nucleus. The dynamic behaviour of the chromatin structure and the diffusion of particles in the nucleus are also closely connected to the fractal dimension. Fractal analysis of the simulations reveal the multi-fractality of chromosomes. First fractal analysis of chromatin distributions in vivo result in significant differences for different morphologies and might favour a MLS-modellike chromatin distribution. Simulations of fragment distributions based on double strand breakage after carbonion irradiation differ in different models. Here again a comparison with experiments favours a MLS-model

Mapping eGFP Oligomer Mobility in Living Cell Nuclei

Movement of particles in cell nuclei can be affected by viscosity, directed flows, active transport, or the presence of obstacles such as the chromatin network. Here we investigate whether the mobility of small fluorescent proteins is affected by the chromatin density. Diffusion of inert fluorescent proteins was studied in living cell nuclei using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) with a two-color confocal scanning detection system. We first present experiments exposing FCS-specific artifacts encountered in live cell studies as well as strategies to prevent them, in particular those arising from the choice of the fluorophore used for calibration of the focal volume, as well as temperature and acquisition conditions used for fluorescence fluctuation measurements. After defining the best acquisition conditions, we show for various human cell lines that the mobility of GFP varies significantly within the cell nucleus, but does not correlate with chromatin density. The intranuclear diffusional mobility strongly depends on protein size: in a series of GFP-oligomers, used as free inert fluorescent tracers, the diffusion coefficient decreased from the monomer to the tetramer much more than expected for molecules free in aqueous solution. Still, the entire intranuclear chromatin network is freely accessible for small proteins up to the size of eGFP-tetramers, regardless of the chromatin density or cell line. Even the densest chromatin regions do not exclude free eGFP-monomers or multimers