Institute for Theoretical Physics, Heidelberg University, Philosophenweg 19, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Exp Cell Res. 2012 Jul 15;318(12):1381-5. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2012.03.027. Epub 2012 Apr 4.
Mounting evidence is compiling linking the physical organizational structure of chromosomes and the nuclear structure to biological function. At the base of the physical organizational structure of both is the concept of loop formation. This implies that physical proximity within chromosomes is provided for otherwise distal genomic regions and thus hierarchically organizing the chromosomes. Together with entropy many experimental observations can be explained with these two concepts. Among the observations that can be explained are the measured physical extent of the chromosomes, their shape, mechanical behavior, the segregation into territories (chromosomal and territories within chromosomes), the results from chromosome conformation capture experiments, as well as linking gene expression to structural organization.
越来越多的证据将染色体的物理组织结构和核结构与生物学功能联系起来。在这两种物理组织结构的基础上，是环形成的概念。这意味着，为染色体上原本相隔较远的基因组区域提供了物理上的接近性，从而对染色体进行层次化组织。通过这两个概念，可以解释许多实验观察结果，包括熵。可以用这两个概念来解释的观察结果包括：染色体的物理长度、形状、力学行为、区室化（染色体和染色体内部的区室）、染色体构象捕获实验的结果，以及将基因表达与结构组织联系起来。
