Summary:
In the article, “Chromosome Folding Promotes Intrachromosomal Aberrations under Radiation- and
Nuclease-Induced DNA Breakage”, a “physical modeling” method for predicting genomic data from
chromosomes that been affected by ionizing radiation and the injection of nuclease is tested on chromosomes
collected from mice. Their aim was to test if physical modeling was capable of predicting results, and if the
outcome supported already established principles. The data used in their analysis of the chromosomal
aberrations was generated using conformation capture and translocation sequencing. The researchers attempted
to predict and model the chromosome structure and its aberrations which were induced by the aforementioned
ionizing radiation and nuclease injection. After analyzing their results, they found a quantitative link to their
predictions. Their key findings included organizational patterns of breakpoints in the experimental mice
chromosomes, a significant distance between the location of DNA double-strand breaks (caused by nuclease)
and a great amount of cis-translocation breakages. As well as chromosome contact maps. The article also stated
that their results supported a principle called the heteropolymer globule principle of chromosome organization.
The researchers also described how utilizing physical modeling in tandem with chromosome conformation
capture and translocation sequencing can offer a alternative way of looking at things cause radiation based
chromosomal aberrations such as: chromosome structure heterogeneity, globular folding and lesion dynamics
References:
Eidelman, Y., Salnikov, I., Slanina, S., Andreev, S. Chromosome Folding Promotes Intrachromosomal
Aberrations under Radiation- and Nuclease-Induced DNA Breakage. International journal of molecular
sciences 22, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212186 (2021)