title: Entropy gives rise to topologically associating domains.
abstract: We investigate chromosome organization within the nucleus using polymer models whose formulation is closely guided by experiments in live yeast cells. We employ bead-spring chromosome models together with loop formation within the chains and the presence of nuclear bodies to quantify the extent to which these mechanisms shape the topological landscape in the interphase nucleus. By investigating the genome as a dynamical system, we show that domains of high chromosomal interactions can arise solely from the polymeric nature of the chromosome arms due to entropic interactions and nuclear confinement. In this view, the role of bio-chemical related processes is to modulate and extend the duration of the interacting domains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29808, USA.
authors.forename: Paula A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hult
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adalsteinsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lawrimore
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Forest
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA Kerry_Bloom@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bloom
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D019277:Entropy; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin