Washington [US], June 20 (ANI): Researchers uncovered previously unknown information about the genome’s spatial architecture by relying solely on Hi-C, a workhorse tool developed in 2009 to study DNA interactions.
With a black-and-white TV, you can see the shapes but everything looks grey,” says Professor Ana Pombo, a molecular biologist and head of the Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Architecture lab. “But if you have a colour TV and look at flowers, you realize that they are red, yellow and white and we were unaware of it. Similarly, there’s also information in the way the genome is folded in three dimensions that we have not been aware of.”
Understanding the structure of DNA can reveal the origins of health and disease. Our cells fit a 2-meter-long genome into a nucleus with a diameter of about 10 micrometres. The packaging is done precisely so that regulatory DNA interacts with the correct genes at the correct times, turning them on and off. Changes in three-dimensional configuration can disrupt this process and result in disease.
“We’ve known for a long time that diseases run in families,” says Dr Robert Beagrie, co-first author of the study and a molecular biologist at the University of Oxford, formerly at the Pombo lab. “More recently, we’ve come to understand that a great deal of this predisposition is because we inherit DNA sequence variants from our parents that affect how our genes are switched on and off.”
GAM provides more complex information
Techniques such as Hi-C and GAM allow scientists to freeze and study the interactions between regulatory sequences and genes. In Hi-C, chromatin is cut into pieces using enzymes and then glued together again in such a way that two-way DNA interactions are revealed upon sequencing. In GAM, first described by the Pombo team in “Nature” in 2017, scientists take hundreds of thin slices of nuclei, each from individual cells, and extract DNA from them. They sequence the DNA and statistically analyze the data to learn which regions interact.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Unprecedented Precision: The tool provides an unprecedented level of precision in identifying and characterizing genome interactions, allowing researchers to pinpoint specific regions of interest and understand their functional significance.
- Scalability: With its scalable design, the tool can handle vast amounts of genomic data, making it suitable for both small-scale experiments and large-scale population studies. This scalability opens doors to comprehensive genome-wide analyses, empowering scientists to explore complex interactions on a global scale.
- Integrated Computational Analysis: The tool incorporates advanced computational algorithms, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning. This integration enhances data interpretation, enables the identification of hidden patterns, and accelerates the discovery of novel genetic relationships.
Implications and Future Directions:
The availability of this cutting-edge tool has profound implications for various domains of scientific research. In the field of medicine, it holds the potential to uncover new diagnostic markers, therapeutic targets, and personalized treatment approaches for a range of genetic disorders. In agriculture, it can aid in the development of resilient crops, optimized livestock breeding strategies, and improved food production. Furthermore, in the realm of biotechnology, the tool can expedite the engineering of organisms for biofuel production, bioremediation, and industrial processes.
However, this breakthrough is just the tip of the iceberg. As researchers further refine the tool and explore its applications, new frontiers in genomics are bound to emerge. Collaborations between scientists across different disciplines will be vital to unlock the full potential of this technology and unravel the intricate complexities of our genetic blueprint.
Conclusion:
The unveiling of this cutting-edge tool for analyzing complex genome interactions marks a significant milestone in genomic research. Its precision, scalability, and integration of computational analysis offer unprecedented opportunities to unravel the mysteries of our genetic code. As this tool continues to evolve, we can look forward to transformative discoveries that will shape the future of medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. With each breakthrough, we move closer to unlocking the hidden secrets encoded within our genomes and paving the way for a brighter and healthier tomorrow.
