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Chromatin Architecture pp 63–103Cite as

Structure, Function and Dynamics of Chromatin

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Part of the book series: Springer Theses ((Springer Theses))

Abstract

Chromatin is a DNA-protein polymer, which consists of DNA, structural proteins, non-structural proteins and RNA. During interphase, chromatin encodes the information necessary to maintain the primary functions of the cells. At the same time, the cell holds in a relatively small volume (roughly 4000 \(\upmu \mathrm{m}^3\) of diameter for the nucleus) the entire genome, which is billions of base pairs long and roughly 3 m in length when completely unfolded. Moreover, information needs to be retrieved from this highly condensed structure when a gene needs to be expressed at a fast pace.

Stress is the shortest distance between two homologous chromosomes. Searching for a soul-mate?

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This section is partially based on Kirmes et al. (2015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

    Kirti Prakash

  2. Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany

    Kirti Prakash

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Prakash, K. (2017). Structure, Function and Dynamics of Chromatin. In: Chromatin Architecture. Springer Theses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52183-1_3

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