Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2020

Keywords

JGM

JAX Source

Nat Commun 2020 May 1; 11(1):2120

Volume

11

Issue

1

First Page

2120

Last Page

2120

ISSN

2041-1723

PMID

32358536

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15987-2

Abstract

The human genome is extensively folded into 3-dimensional organization. However, the detailed 3D chromatin folding structures have not been fully visualized due to the lack of robust and ultra-resolution imaging capability. Here, we report the development of an electron microscopy method that combines serial block-face scanning electron microscopy with in situ hybridization (3D-EMISH) to visualize 3D chromatin folding at targeted genomic regions with ultra-resolution (5 × 5 × 30 nm in xyz dimensions) that is superior to the current super-resolution by fluorescence light microscopy. We apply 3D-EMISH to human lymphoblastoid cells at a 1.7 Mb segment of the genome and visualize a large number of distinctive 3D chromatin folding structures in ultra-resolution. We further quantitatively characterize the reconstituted chromatin folding structures by identifying sub-domains, and uncover a high level heterogeneity of chromatin folding ultrastructures in individual nuclei, suggestive of extensive dynamic fluidity in 3D chromatin states.

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This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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