TY - JOUR T1 - Structure and Dynamics of Interphase Chromosomes A1 - Rosa, Angelo A1 - Everaers, Ralf Y1 - 2008/08/22 N2 - Author Summary Eukaryotic genomes are organized in sets of chromosomes. Each chromosome consists of a single continuous DNA double-helix and associated proteins that organize locally in the form of a chromatin fiber. During cell division (mitosis) chromosomes adopt a compact form that is suitable for transport. During periods of normal cell activity (interphase), they decondense inside the cell nucleus. Being long-chain molecules (in the case of human chromosomes the contour length of the chromatin fiber is on the order of 1 mm), the random thermal motion of interphase chromatin fibers is hindered by entanglements, similar to those restricting the manipulation of a knotted ball of wool. We have studied the consequences of this effect using computer simulations. Most importantly, we find that entanglement effects cause sufficiently long chromosomes to remain segregated during interphase and to form “territories.” Our model (1) reproduces currently avaliable experimental results for the existence and shape of territories as well as for the internal chromosome structure and dynamics in interphase nuclei and (2) explains why entanglement effects do not interfere with the reverse process of chromosome condensation at the end of interphase. JF - PLOS Computational Biology JA - PLOS Computational Biology VL - 4 IS - 8 UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000153 SP - e1000153 EP - PB - Public Library of Science M3 - doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000153 ER -