Genome-wide profiling of DNA supercoiling domains in human cells

Authors

• S Porche
• JC Nelson
• H Kalish

Abstract

DNA supercoiling is an important feature of the double helix and is critical for regulating chromatin environment and gene expression. However, the understanding of DNA supercoiling in living cells is limited, largely due to a lack of technologies. Here, we developed an azide-psoralen based quantitively detection DNA supercoiling method, termed ATMP-seq, which profiled the human genome is organized into supercoiling domains (SDs). We further revealed such SDs were shaped by balancing transcription-generated supercoiling propagation along chromatin and relaxation by actively regulated topoisomerase. Relaxation of SDs by topoisomerase is actively regulated via 3D chromatin organization. We also found accumulation of negative supercoiling around the boundaries of topologically associating domains. Finally, we demonstrated the dynamics of SDs and supercoiling in human cells, that contribute to the chromatin environment affecting DNA-related processes.

Scientific Focus Area: Chromosome Biology

This page was last updated on Monday, September 25, 2023