Systematic inference and comparison of multi-scale chromatin sub-compartments connects spatial organization to cell phenotypes.

Liu, Yuanlong; Nanni, Luca; Sungalee, Stephanie; Zufferey, Marie; Tavernari, Daniele; Mina, Marco; Ceri, Stefano; Oricchio, Elisa et al. · Nat Commun · 2021

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Chromatin compartmentalization reflects biological activity. However, inference of chromatin sub-compartments and compartment domains from chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) experiments is limited by data resolution. As a result, these have been characterized only in a few cell types and systematic comparisons across multiple tissues and conditions are missing. Here, we present Calder, an algorithmic approach that enables the identification of multi-scale sub-compartments at variable data resolution. Calder allows to infer and compare chromatin sub-compartments and compartment domains in >100 cell lines. Our results reveal sub-compartments enriched for poised chromatin states and undergoing spatial repositioning during lineage differentiation and oncogenic transformation.