title: A random-walk/giant-loop model for interphase chromosomes.
abstract: Fluorescence in situ hybridization data on distances between defined genomic sequences are used to construct a quantitative model for the overall geometric structure of a human chromosome. We suggest that the large-scale geometry during the G0/G1 part of the cell cycle may consist of flexible chromatin loops, averaging approximately 3 million bp, with a random-walk backbone. A fully explicit, three-parametric polymer model of this random-walk/giant-loop structure can account well for the data. More general models consistent with the data are briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van den Engh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trask
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hearst
mesh_terms: D001482:Base Composition; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007399:Interphase; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011108:Polymers; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D011108:Polymers