weird_elf t1_jdlje36 wrote on March 25, 2023 at 7:55 AM

>Here we characterized the 3D genome and epigenome of human cells after
SARS-CoV-2 infection, finding widespread host chromatin restructuring
that features widespread compartment A weakening, A–B mixing, reduced
intra-TAD contacts and decreased H3K27ac euchromatin modification
levels. Such changes were not found following common-cold-virus
HCoV-OC43 infection.

Abeyita t1_jdljpwh wrote on March 25, 2023 at 8:00 AM

I have no idea what that means.

AimlessZealot t1_jdnj41u wrote on March 25, 2023 at 6:56 PM

I don't spend a lot of time on genetics but as I remember it:

Compartment A weakening- Active chromosomes being weakened.

A/B mixing - Inactive and active chromosomes coming in contact and potentially affecting each other when they are supposed to be kept in separate compartments to avoid that.

Intra-TAD contact - Genes that exist to help enhance, promote or silence specific other genes can affect genes they were not intended to, thanks to the isolating boundaries being broken.

Decreased H3K27ac modification - (This one I kinda remember) This reduces the likelihood of DNA correctly copying sections when signalled (enhanced) and causes some genes to not be enhanced. This is a problem because sections like our opposable thumbs and brain development have been linked to enhancer genes doing their thing, of which many depend on H3K27AC modification to help.

Hope that helps.

y0nm4n t1_jdlklrm wrote on March 25, 2023 at 8:14 AM

This is…not layman’s terms?