Genetic approaches to revealing the principles of nuclear architecture

The spatial organization of chromosomes inside the eukaryotic nucleus is important for DNA replication, repair and gene expression. During development of multicellular organisms, different compendiums of genes are either repressed or activated to produce specific cell types. Genetic manipulation of tractable organisms is invaluable to elucidate chromosome configuration and the underlying mechanisms. Systematic inhibition of genes through RNA interference and, more recently, CRISPR/Cas9-based screens have identified new proteins with significant roles in nuclear organization. Coupling this with advances in imaging techniques, such as multiplexed DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, and with tissue-specific genome profiling by DNA adenine methylation identification has increased our knowledge about the immense complexity and dynamics of the nucleus.