poster: Polymer Models of the 4D Epigenome
speaker: Michieletto Davide (University of Edinburgh)abstract: The organisation of the genome within the cell nucleus is dictated by processes that are yet to be fully understood. It is becoming clear that a major role in this process is played by "epigenetic marks". These are biochemical tags that are dynamically deposited on and removed from DNA and histones. In spite of displaying a fast turnover, these marks display robust patterns along the genome that are remembered across cell division, so that all the progeny cells retain the same identity of their progenitor. Here, we propose a new model to include dynamic epigenetic marks within a well-established polymer model for the genome. We discover that this enhanced "4D" polymer model is highly reminiscent of an Ising model on a 1D string of beads which is allowed to diffuse in 3D, thus providing a yet unexplored generalisation of a classic problem in statistical physics. Our model provides a solid physical foundation which underpins the understanding of genome organisation in space and time.
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