Journal Article

GSI-2026-00570

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Direct visualization and tracing of chromatin folding in the Drosophila embryo

Fatmaoui, F. ; Carrivain, P. ; Taiki, F. ; Iusupova, A.Extern* ; Grewe, D. ; Hagen, W. ; Jakob, B.GSI* ; Victor, J.-M. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Leforestier, A. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Eltsov, M. (Corresponding author)

2026
Nature Publishing Group UK [London]

This record in other databases:

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s44318-026-00701-7  doi:10.15120/GSI-2026-00570

Abstract: Chromatin organization, through the assembly of DNA with histones and the folding of nucleosome chains, regulates DNA accessibility for transcription, DNA replication and repair. Although models derived from in vitro studies have proposed distinct nucleosome chain geometries, the organization of chromatin within the crowded cell nucleus remains elusive. Using cryo-electron tomography of thin vitreous sections, we directly observed the path of nucleosomal and linker DNA in situ from a flash-frozen organism - Drosophila embryos. We quantified linker length and curvature, characterizing an irregular zig-zag chromatin-folding motif, with a low degree of linker bending. Nucleosome conformations could be identified on individual particles in favorable orientations without structure averaging. Additionally, we observed particles that accommodate a number of DNA gyres ranging from less than one to up to three, which resemble previously proposed non-octameric nucleosomal particles with variable DNA wrapping.

Keyword(s): Animals (MeSH) ; Nucleosomes: ultrastructure (MeSH) ; Nucleosomes: metabolism (MeSH) ; Chromatin: ultrastructure (MeSH) ; Chromatin: metabolism (MeSH) ; Chromatin: chemistry (MeSH) ; Embryo, Nonmammalian: ultrastructure (MeSH) ; Embryo, Nonmammalian: metabolism (MeSH) ; Drosophila melanogaster: embryology (MeSH) ; DNA: metabolism (MeSH) ; DNA: chemistry (MeSH) ; DNA: ultrastructure (MeSH) ; Cryoelectron Microscopy (MeSH) ; Electron Microscope Tomography (MeSH) ; Drosophila: embryology (MeSH) ; Chromatin Fiber ; In Situ Cryo-Electron Tomography ; Linker DNA ; Nucleosome ; Sub-Nucleosomal Particles ; Nucleosomes ; Chromatin ; DNA

Note: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Biophysik (BIO)

Research Program(s):

1. 633 - Life Sciences – Building Blocks of Life: Structure and Function (POF4-633) (POF4-633)
2. SUC-GSI-Darmstadt - Strategic university cooperation GSI-TU Darmstadt (SUC-GSI-DA) (SUC-GSI-DA)
3. 02NUK054A - Verbundprojekt VERCHROMT II: Erkennung, Verarbeitung und biologische Konsequenzen von Chromatinschäden nach Teilchenbestrahlung II, Teilprojekt A (BMBF-02NUK054A) (BMBF-02NUK054A)

Experiment(s):

1. no experiment theory work (theory)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Article Processing Charges ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; DEAL Wiley ; DOAJ Seal ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---