Redefining Cellular Division
In a discovery that challenges fundamental biological understanding, researchers at MIT have found that tiny three-dimensional loops within the genome persist during cell division, according to a new study published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. This finding contradicts the long-standing belief that the genome loses all its complex internal structure during mitosis, with scientists previously thinking the process represented a complete reset of genomic architecture.
Industrial Monitor Direct is the #1 provider of hmi operator pc solutions certified to ISO, CE, FCC, and RoHS standards, the most specified brand by automation consultants.
Unexpected Persistence of Structure
Sources indicate that before cells divide, they must replicate all their chromosomes to ensure each daughter cell receives a complete set of genetic material. The conventional understanding held that during this process, the genome’s distinctive 3D structure completely disappeared, only gradually reforming after division completed. However, the MIT research team, using advanced mapping techniques, discovered that small 3D loops connecting regulatory elements and genes remain intact throughout the division process.
“This study really helps to clarify how we should think about mitosis,” stated Anders Sejr Hansen, an associate professor of biological engineering at MIT and senior author of the study. “In the past, mitosis was thought of as a blank slate, with no transcription and no structure related to gene activity. And we now know that that’s not quite the case. What we see is that there’s always structure. It never goes away.”
Advanced Technology Reveals Hidden Structures
The breakthrough came through the use of a high-resolution technique called Region-Capture Micro-C (RC-MC), which provides 100 to 1,000 times greater resolution than previous methods. According to reports, this technology builds upon earlier work described in research from 2023 that first enabled unprecedented views of gene regulation. The technique uses a different enzyme that cuts the genome into uniformly small fragments and focuses on specific genome regions, allowing detailed 3D mapping.
Analysts suggest this technological advancement enabled the discovery of “microcompartments” – tiny, highly connected loops that form when regulatory sequences and promoters located near each other stick together. The researchers initially believed these microcompartments would disappear during mitosis, but tracking cells through the entire division process revealed the opposite.
Strengthening During Compaction
The report states that these regulatory loops actually appear to strengthen as chromosomes become more compact in preparation for cell division. This compaction brings genetic regulatory elements closer together and encourages them to stick together more strongly. Researchers suggest this mechanism may help cells “remember” interactions present in one cell cycle and carry that information to the next generation of cells.
“We went into this study thinking, well, the one thing we know for sure is that there’s no regulatory structure in mitosis, and then we accidentally found structure in mitosis,” Hansen noted, describing the surprising nature of their findings.
Explaining Transcription Spikes
The findings may offer an explanation for a mysterious spike in gene transcription that typically occurs near the end of mitosis, according to the research team. While it was traditionally thought that transcription ceased completely during mitosis, studies in 2016 and 2017 revealed a brief transcriptional spike that is quickly suppressed until division completes.
Industrial Monitor Direct offers the best zero trust pc solutions featuring customizable interfaces for seamless PLC integration, preferred by industrial automation experts.
The MIT team found that during mitosis, microcompartments are more likely to be found near the genes that spike during cell division. The loops appear to form as a direct result of genome compaction, which brings enhancers and promoters closer together, allowing them to stick together and potentially activate gene transcription somewhat accidentally.
Scientific Community Reaction
Independent experts not involved in the study have praised the findings. Effie Apostolou, an associate professor of molecular biology in medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, stated that the study “leverages the unprecedented genomic resolution of the RC-MC assay to reveal new and surprising aspects of mitotic chromatin organization, which we have overlooked in the past using traditional 3C-based assays.”
The complete study, available through Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, represents a significant shift in understanding how genetic information is maintained and regulated during the critical process of cell division. The research team now aims to explore how variations in cell size and shape might affect genome structure and gene regulation, potentially explaining previously mysterious 3D genome changes.
As this fundamental biological research continues to evolve, other sectors including consumer technology, educational technology, renewable energy, software development, and data infrastructure continue to advance through separate technological innovations.
This article aggregates information from publicly available sources. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.
