Stormo Benjamin M, Fox Donald T
Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
Chromosome Res. 2017 Oct;25(3-4):201-214. doi: 10.1007/s10577-017-9562-z. Epub 2017 Aug 4.
In this era of high-resolution mapping of chromosome territories, topological interactions, and chromatin states, it is increasingly appreciated that the positioning of chromosomes and their interactions within the nucleus is critical for cellular function. Due to their large size and distinctive structure, polytene chromosomes have contributed a wealth of knowledge regarding chromosome regulation. In this review, we discuss the diversity of polytene chromosomes in nature and in disease, examine the recurring structural features of polytene chromosomes in terms of what they reveal about chromosome biology, and discuss recent advances regarding how polytene chromosomes are assembled and disassembled. After over 130 years of study, these giant chromosomes are still powerful tools to understand chromosome biology.
在这个染色体区域、拓扑相互作用和染色质状态高分辨率图谱的时代,人们越来越认识到染色体在细胞核内的定位及其相互作用对细胞功能至关重要。由于其巨大的尺寸和独特的结构,多线染色体为染色体调控提供了丰富的知识。在这篇综述中,我们讨论了多线染色体在自然界和疾病中的多样性,从它们对染色体生物学的揭示方面审视多线染色体反复出现的结构特征,并讨论关于多线染色体如何组装和拆卸的最新进展。经过130多年的研究,这些巨大的染色体仍然是理解染色体生物学的有力工具。