Exploring genomic data coupled with 3D chromatin structures using the WashU Epigenome Browser

Abstract

Biological functions are not only encoded by the genome’s sequence but also regulated by its three-dimensional (3D) structure. More and more studies have revealed the importance of 3D chromatin structures in development and diseases; therefore, visualizing the connections between genome sequence, epigenomic dynamics (1D) and the 3D genome becomes a pressing need. The WashU Epigenome Browser introduces a new 3D visualization module to integrate visualization of 1D (such as sequence features, epigenomic data) and 2D data (such as chromosome conformation capture data) with 3D genome structure. Genomic coordinates are encoded in 3D models of the chromosomes; thus, all genomic information displayed on a 1D genome browser can be visualized on a 3D model, supported by genome browser utilities and facilitating interpretation of genomic data. Biological information that is difficult to illustrate in 1D becomes more intuitive when displayed in 3D, providing novel and powerful tools for investigators to hypothesize and understand the connections between biological functions and 3D genome structures.