Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Chromatin Packaging02:21

Chromatin Packaging

Each human somatic cell contains 6 billion base-pairs of DNA. Each base-pair is 0.34 nm long, which means that each diploid cell contains a staggering 2 meters of DNA. How is such a long DNA strand packed inside a nucleus measuring only 10 - 20 microns in diameter? 
The chromatin
In combination with specialized DNA binding protein called Histones, the DNA double helix forms a compact DNA: protein complex called chromatin. The chromatin itself is further compacted into higher-order structures.
Chromatin Packaging01:32

Chromatin Packaging

Each human somatic cell contains 6 billion base pairs of DNA. Each base pair is 0.34 nm long, meaning each diploid cell contains a staggering 2 meters of DNA. This long DNA strand is packed inside a nucleus measuring only 10-20 microns in diameter with the help of specialized DNA-binding proteins called histones. Together they form a compact DNA-protein complex called chromatin. The chromatin is further compacted into higher-order structures. The highest level of compaction is achieved during...
Chromatin Packaging02:21

Chromatin Packaging

Each human somatic cell contains 6 billion base-pairs of DNA. Each base-pair is 0.34 nm long, which means that each diploid cell contains a staggering 2 meters of DNA. How is such a long DNA strand packed inside a nucleus measuring only 10 - 20 microns in diameter? 
The chromatin
In combination with specialized DNA binding protein called Histones, the DNA double helix forms a compact DNA: protein complex called chromatin. The chromatin itself is further compacted into higher-order structures.
Euchromatin01:01

Euchromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions take up more dye, appearing darker, while the less-compact areas take up less dye and appear lighter. Based on the compaction level, chromatins are classified into two primary forms – euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Euchromatin is the less dense region of the chromatin and stains lighter. Euchromatin contains histone H3 extensively...
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications02:25

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications

The histone proteins in the nucleosomes are post-translationally modified (PTM) to increase or decrease access to DNA. The commonly observed PTMs are methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of lysine amino acids in the histone H3 tail region. These histone modifications have specific meaning for the cell. Hence, they are called "histone code". The protein complex involved in histone modification is termed as "reader-writer" complex.
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...
Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative heterochromatin.
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spectral Graph Entropy of Chromatin: A von Neumann Framework for Multiscale Polymer Organization from Hi-C.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2026
Same author

An experimentally-informed polymer model reveals high resolution organization of genomic loci.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

The role of nucleotide opening dynamics in facilitated target search by DNA-repair proteins.

Biochimica et biophysica acta. Gene regulatory mechanisms·2024
Same author

The environmentally-regulated interplay between local three-dimensional chromatin organisation and transcription of proVWX in E. coli.

Nature communications·2023
Same author

Superstructure Detection in Nucleosome Distribution Shows Common Pattern within a Chromosome and within the Genome.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2022
Same author

Inter-nucleosomal potentials from nucleosomal positioning data.

The European physical journal. E, Soft matter·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

A Multilabel Single Molecule Localization Microscopy Protocol for Investigation of Chromatin in the Dense Nuclear Environment
08:49

A Multilabel Single Molecule Localization Microscopy Protocol for Investigation of Chromatin in the Dense Nuclear Environment

Published on: June 5, 2026

Two-angle model and phase diagram for chromatin.

Philipp M Diesinger1, Dieter W Heermann

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Heidelberg, Philosophenweg 19, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|October 10, 2006
PubMed
Summary

We mapped the chromatin phase diagram, detailing its excluded-volume borderline. This study also analyzed DNA linker repulsion, refining previous chromatin structure models.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Chromatin structure is crucial for DNA accessibility and gene regulation.
  • Previous models provided a rough estimation of the chromatin phase diagram's forbidden surface.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To refine the understanding of the chromatin phase diagram.
  • To investigate the fine structure of the excluded-volume borderline.
  • To analyze Coulomb repulsion of DNA linkers.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the two-angle model for chromatin phase diagram analysis.
  • Employed numerical and analytical methods to determine the excluded-volume borderline.
  • Investigated DNA linker Coulomb repulsion.

More Related Videos

An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues
10:41

An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues

Published on: April 5, 2018

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C
09:32

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C

Published on: October 14, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2026

A Multilabel Single Molecule Localization Microscopy Protocol for Investigation of Chromatin in the Dense Nuclear Environment
08:49

A Multilabel Single Molecule Localization Microscopy Protocol for Investigation of Chromatin in the Dense Nuclear Environment

Published on: June 5, 2026

An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues
10:41

An Integrated Platform for Genome-wide Mapping of Chromatin States Using High-throughput ChIP-sequencing in Tumor Tissues

Published on: April 5, 2018

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C
09:32

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C

Published on: October 14, 2022

Main Results:

  • Revealed the fine structure of the excluded-volume borderline for chromatin.
  • Provided a detailed phase diagram for chromatin.
  • Quantified DNA linker repulsion effects.

Conclusions:

  • The study offers a more precise phase diagram for chromatin.
  • Findings enhance the understanding of chromatin organization and interactions.
  • Results contribute to biophysical models of genome structure.