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Updated: Jul 26, 2025

4D Imaging of Protein Aggregation in Live Cells
Published on: April 5, 2013
Chromosome and protein folding: In search for unified principles
1Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, and Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Abstract:
Structural biology has traditionally focused on the structures of proteins, short nucleic acids, small molecules, and their complexes. However, it is now widely recognized that the 3D organization of chromosomes should also be included in this list, despite significant differences in scale and complexity of organization. Here we highlight some notable similarities between the folding processes that shape proteins and chromosomes. Both biomolecules are folded by two types of processes: the affinity-mediated interactions, and by active (ATP-dependent) processes. Both chromosome and proteins in vivo can have partially unstructured and non-equilibrium ensembles with yet to be understood functional roles. By analyzing these biological systems in parallel, we can uncover universal principles of biomolecular organization that transcend specific biopolymers.
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