RT Journal
A1 Amat, Ramon
A1 Böttcher, René
A1 Le Dily, François
A1 Vidal, Enrique
A1 Quilez, Javier
A1 Cuartero, Yasmina
A1 Beato, Miguel
A1 de Nadal, Eulàlia
A1 Posas, Francesc
T1 Rapid reversible changes in compartments and local chromatin organization revealed by hyperosmotic shock
JF Genome Research 
JO Genome Research 
YR 2019 
FD January 01 
VO 29 
IS 1 
SP 18 
OP 28 
DO 10.1101/gr.238527.118 
UL http://genome.cshlp.org/content/29/1/18.abstract 
AB Nuclear architecture is decisive for the assembly of transcriptional responses. However, how chromosome organization is dynamically modulated to permit rapid and transient transcriptional changes in response to environmental challenges remains unclear. Here we show that hyperosmotic stress disrupts different levels of chromosome organization, ranging from A/B compartment changes to reduction in the number and insulation of topologically associating domains (TADs). Concomitantly, transcription is greatly affected, TAD borders weaken, and RNA Polymerase II runs off from hundreds of transcription end sites. Stress alters the binding profiles of architectural proteins, which explains the disappearance of local chromatin organization. These processes are dynamic, and cells rapidly reconstitute their default chromatin conformation after stress removal, uncovering an intrinsic organization. Transcription is not required for local chromatin reorganization, while compartment recovery is partially transcription-dependent. Thus, nuclear organization in mammalian cells can be rapidly modulated by environmental changes in a reversible manner.