Nature Communications (Oct 2021)

Polycomb condensates can promote epigenetic marks but are not required for sustained chromatin compaction

  • Jorine M. Eeftens,
  • Manya Kapoor,
  • Davide Michieletto,
  • Clifford P. Brangwynne

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26147-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Phase separation has been suggested as a mechanism for heterochromatin formation through condensation of heterochromatin-associated factors. Here the authors show Polycomb complex PRC1 forms condensates on chromatin. Using optogenetic tools they nucleate local Polycomb condensates to show that this phase separation leads to subsequent histone modifications and chromatin compaction.