Quantifying variation in chromosome structural ensembles using statistical analysis of pairwise structure similarity matrices

Abstract

Inside the nucleus, chromatin is subjected to different physical interactions, active forces, and thermal noise, leading to the formation of an ensemble of three-dimensional structures through structural dynamics. Recent studies have shown that the structural organization of chromatin at different resolutions is crucial for the regulation of cell-type-specific transcriptional activities. However, it is still not well understood to what extent and how the structural ensemble varies in a cell-type and chromosome-specific manner.