Study - Visualizing chromatin structure throughout meiotic prophase
Elucidating patterns of chromatin organization is fundamental to understanding mechanisms of gene regulation and behavior.
- Institution
- UC San Diego
- Year
- Service
- Bioinformatics
Overview
The Corbett Lab studies the complex organization of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. In particular, the lab is interested in characterizing the architecture of the chromosome axis, a conserved meiosis-specific protein complex that regulates meiotic recombination. This study investigates the dynamic reorganization of the genome during meiotic prophase, a critical period in gamete formation where homologous chromosomes pair and exchange genetic material.
Using Hi-C chromosome conformation capture on synchronized mouse spermatocytes, we generated a detailed map of chromosomal architecture during early and late meiotic prophase. Our bioinformatics analysis revealed that while topologically associating domains (TADs) are lost, A/B compartments are retained, and significant reconfiguration occurs to facilitate homolog pairing and recombination, crucial for genetic diversity and proper chromosome segregation.
The findings significantly advance our understanding of the structural basis for homolog alignment and meiotic recombination, highlighting the role of chromatin organization in these processes. Such insights could inform future research into fertility treatments, genetic disorders, and potentially guide the development of new therapeutic strategies for conditions resulting from meiotic errors.
What we did
- Bioinformatics
- Hi-C
- Pipeline Development