Fig. 3: Illustration of the dynamic changes in the hierarchical organization of the 3D genome across different EMT transitional phases along the spectrum.
From: Regulating epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity from 3D genome organization
The transition from an epithelial to mesenchymal state is depicted from left to right in the illustration. The hierarchical orders of the 3D genome organization, viewed from larger to smaller resolution (top to bottom) — chromosome territories, chromatin compartments, TADs and DNA loops —are indicated on the left. At the order of chromatin compartments, the eLADs are shown to be involved in the formation of new inactive chromatin compartments as the cells becomes mesenchymal. While the TAD borders remain relatively conserved between the EMT, the dynamic changes in histone modifications and chromatin conformation within the TADs are crucial in transcriptional regulation of EMT genes. Lastly, the formation of EMT-TF centric enhancer-promoter interactions, via loop extrusion model, within the TADs is required for activation of EMT gene transcription.
