TY - JOUR T1 - Emerging Evidence of Chromosome Folding by Loop Extrusion JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/264648 SP - 264648 AU - Geoffrey Fudenberg AU - Nezar Abdennur AU - Maxim Imakaev AU - Anton Goloborodko AU - Leonid A. Mirny Y1 - 2018/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/02/16/264648.abstract N2 - Chromosome organization poses a remarkable physical problem with many biological consequences: how can molecular interactions between proteins at the nanometer scale organize micron-long chromatinized DNA molecules, insulating or facilitating interactions between specific genomic elements? The mechanism of active loop extrusion holds great promise for explaining interphase and mitotic chromosome folding, yet remains difficult to assay directly. We discuss predictions from our polymer models of loop extrusion with barrier elements, and review recent experimental studies that provide strong support for loop extrusion, focusing on perturbations to CTCF and cohesin assayed via Hi-C in interphase. Finally, we discuss a likely molecular mechanism of loop extrusion by SMC complexes. ER -