Chromosome Spatial Conformation:Techniques,Applications and Challenges
The spatial conformation of chromosomes within the nucleus plays a pivotal role in gene ex-pression,DNA replication,DNA damage repair,and gene stability.Understanding the intricate spatial organization of chromosomes is crucial for studying disease occurrence and development.However,our current understanding of changes in chromosome spatial conformation remains insufficient,limiting our a-bility to investigate the relationship between chromosomal structure and disease.This limitation primarily stems from the need for further development and refinement of high-resolution techniques used to study chromosome spatial conformation.In this paper,we provide a brief overview of the fundamental spatial structure of chromosomes before delving into detailed discussions on the application of fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH),chromosome conformation capture(3C)and its derivatives,along with relevant research findings.To achieve more accurate real-time observations of chromosomal dynamics and spatial organization,it is imperative to conduct experiments using live cells.Therefore,this paper provides an extensive description of how fluorescence microscopy-based location tracking technology and chromosome dynamic tracking technology have been applied in studying chromosomal spatial conformation as well as highlighting notable achievements in this field.Finally,based on evaluating the strengths and weaknesses associated with various techniques employed thus far,we identify existing challenges within chromosomal spatial conformation studies while offering suggestions for future research endeavors.