RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Super-resolution Imaging Reveals 3D Structure and Organizing Mechanism of Accessible Chromatin JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 678649 DO 10.1101/678649 A1 Xie, Liangqi A1 Dong, Peng A1 Qi, Yifeng A1 De Marzio, Margherita A1 Chen, Xingqi A1 Banala, Sambashiva A1 Legant, Wesley R. A1 English, Brian P. A1 Hansen, Anders S. A1 Schulmann, Anton A1 Lavis, Luke D. A1 Betzig, Eric A1 Casellas, Rafael A1 Chang, Howard Y. A1 Zhang, Bin A1 Tjian, Robert A1 Liu, Zhe YR 2019 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/06/21/678649.abstract AB Access to cis-regulatory elements packaged in chromatin is essential for directing gene expression and cell viability. Here, we report a super-resolution imaging strategy, 3D ATAC-PALM, that enables direct visualization of the entire accessible genome. We found that active chromosomal segments are organized into spatially-segregated accessible chromatin domains (ACDs). Rapid depletion of CTCF or Cohesin (RAD21 subunit) induced enhanced ACD clustering, reduced physical separation between intrachromosomal ACDs, and differentially regulated ACD compaction. Experimental perturbations and polymer modeling suggest that dynamic protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions within ACDs couple with loop extrusion to organize ACD topology. Dysorganization of ACDs upon CTCF or Cohesin loss alters transcription factor binding and target search dynamics in living cells. These results uncover fundamental mechanisms underpinning the formation of 3D genome architecture and its pivotal function in transcriptional regulation.