Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China.
Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2020 Sep 23;22(36):20189-20201. doi: 10.1039/d0cp01877e.
Recent experiments have provided unprecedented details on the hierarchical organization of the chromatin 3D structure and thus a great opportunity for understanding the mechanisms behind chromatin folding. As a bridge between experimental results and physical theory, coarse-grained polymer models of chromatin are of great value. Here, we review several popular models of chromatin folding, including the fractal globule model, loop models (the random loop model, the dynamic loop model, and the loop extrusion model), the string-and-binder switch model, and the block copolymer model. Physical models are still in great need to explain a larger variety of chromatin folding properties, especially structural features at different scales, their relation to the heterogeneous nature of the DNA sequence, and the highly dynamic nature of chromatin folding.
最近的实验为染色质 3D 结构的层次组织提供了前所未有的细节，从而为理解染色质折叠背后的机制提供了绝佳机会。作为实验结果和物理理论之间的桥梁，染色质的粗粒聚合物模型具有重要价值。在这里，我们回顾了几种流行的染色质折叠模型，包括分形球模型、环模型（随机环模型、动态环模型和环挤压模型）、串和结合物开关模型以及嵌段共聚物模型。物理模型仍然非常需要来解释更多种类的染色质折叠特性，特别是不同尺度的结构特征、它们与 DNA 序列异质性的关系以及染色质折叠的高度动态性质。
