Three-dimensional genome: developmental technologies and applications in precision medicine

• Published in: Journal of human genetics Vol. 65; no. 6; pp. 497 - 511
• Main Authors: Li, Yingqi, Tao, Tao, Du, Likun, Zhu, Xiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.06.2020
• Subjects: Chromatin - genetics; Chromatin - ultrastructure; Computational Biology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA - genetics; DNA - ultrastructure; DNA structure; Gene regulation; Genome, Human - genetics; Genomes; Genomics; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Precision Medicine; Transcription
• ISSN: 1434-5161; 1435-232X; 1435-232X
• DOI: 10.1038/s10038-020-0737-7

In the 20th century, our familiar structure of DNA was the double helix. Due to technical limitations, we do not have a good way to understand the finer structure of the genome, let alone its transcriptional regulation. Until the advent of 3C technologies, we were no longer blind to this one. Three-dimensional (3D) genomics is a new subject, which mainly studies the 3D structure and transcriptional regulation of eukaryotic genomes. Now, this field mainly has Hi-C series and CHIA-PET series technologies. Through 3D genomics, we can understand the basic structure of DNA, understand the growth and development of organisms and the occurrence of diseases, so as to promote human medical and health undertakings. The review introduces the main research techniques of 3D genomics and their characteristics, the latest development of 3D genome structure, the relationship between diseases and 3D genome structure, the applications of 3D genome in precision medicine, and the development of the 4D nucleome project.