About this Research Topic
The regulation of genomic DNA activities is achieved through changing the molecular properties of DNA by the interactions of various proteins with nucleosomes, subnucleosomes, and nucleosome-free DNA regions. Thanks to the tremendous progress of advanced structural biology techniques, particularly the emerging of cryo-EM, a substantial number of atomic structures have been recently solved for the DNA-protein complexes, which have expanded our understanding of the mechanisms of gene regulation. Besides structural features, other biophysical properties of chromatin regulating proteins and the DNA-protein complexes have been determined using NMR, MD, FRET, magnetic tweezers, and other techniques, revealing their biological functions. In the Research Topic, we aim to collect the recent progress in understanding the molecular properties of DNA-protein interactions, chromatin, and their biological roles.
Our knowledge of gene regulation at the molecular level is far from complete. The first focus of this Research Topic is to report the new discoveries of structure and biophysics of proteins and complexes involved in genome activities and chromatin regulation. With the increasing information elucidated for the DNA-protein interactions, one of the key questions is often raised: what are the roles of the observed molecular properties in the biological processes. The second focus of this Research Topic is to discuss the functional relevance of the revealed structural and biophysical features in genome regulation. Furthermore, many systems involved in genome regulation have unique properties such as protein liquid-liquid phase separation and multimerization, which are essential for their biological missions. We also will welcome articles that elucidate such molecular properties.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Mini Reviews, Perspective, and Methods. The themes of this collection include but are not limited to the following areas:
• Structure, dynamics and biophysical properties of DNA-protein complexes involved in genome functioning and regulation revealed by advanced biophysical techniques such as cryo-EM, NMR, XRD, MD, magnetic tweezers, mathematical modeling and other techniques.
• Structure, dynamics and biophysical properties of nucleosomes, subnucleosomes and DNA, and their complexes with regulating proteins.
• Biophysical properties of chromatin regulation factors, such as protein liquid-liquid phase separation and multimerization, and their biological roles.
• Biophysical aspects of genome and epigenome editing techniques.
Our knowledge of gene regulation at the molecular level is far from complete. The first focus of this Research Topic is to report the new discoveries of structure and biophysics of proteins and complexes involved in genome activities and chromatin regulation. With the increasing information elucidated for the DNA-protein interactions, one of the key questions is often raised: what are the roles of the observed molecular properties in the biological processes. The second focus of this Research Topic is to discuss the functional relevance of the revealed structural and biophysical features in genome regulation. Furthermore, many systems involved in genome regulation have unique properties such as protein liquid-liquid phase separation and multimerization, which are essential for their biological missions. We also will welcome articles that elucidate such molecular properties.
This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Mini Reviews, Perspective, and Methods. The themes of this collection include but are not limited to the following areas:
• Structure, dynamics and biophysical properties of DNA-protein complexes involved in genome functioning and regulation revealed by advanced biophysical techniques such as cryo-EM, NMR, XRD, MD, magnetic tweezers, mathematical modeling and other techniques.
• Structure, dynamics and biophysical properties of nucleosomes, subnucleosomes and DNA, and their complexes with regulating proteins.
• Biophysical properties of chromatin regulation factors, such as protein liquid-liquid phase separation and multimerization, and their biological roles.
• Biophysical aspects of genome and epigenome editing techniques.
Keywords: Chromatin, DNA-Protein Interaction, Structural Biology, Biophysics, Functional Molecular Property, Gene Regulation
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
