Chromatin Modification Maps And Cell State

Although they have essentially identical genomes, the different cell types in a multicellular organism maintain markedly different behaviours that persist over extended periods. Previous research suggests that cellular state may be closely related to chromatin state - that is, modifications to histones and other proteins that package the genome. In the present study, the authors used single-molecule-based sequencing technology to construct chromatin-state maps for mouse embryonic stem cells and two other more developmentally advanced cell types, revealing the genome-wide distribution of important chromatin modifications. This allowed them to distinguish between genes that were active, poised for activation or stably repressed, reflecting cellular state and developmental potential.

The authors propose that their study provides a framework for applying comprehensive chromatin profiling towards characterizing diverse mammalian cell populations, including situations of abnormal development such as in cancer.

Author contact:

Eric S. Lander (Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA)
E-mail: lander@broad.mit.edu

Abstract available online.

(C) Nature press release.

Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza