3D genome architecture across the lifespan

In this webinar, Professor Longzhi Tan explores the question of how nerve cells with the identical genetic information become specialized. One possible answer lies in their 3D genome structure, which organizes genes and their transcription factors, impacting gene activity and disease progression. Measuring genome structure is challenging, but Dr. Tan has developed methods based on DNA sequencing to unveil it at the single-cell level. These methods, including Dip-C, scMicro-C, Pop-C, vDip-C, and LiMCA, rely on chromatin conformation capture and whole genome amplification of single cells or single nuclei, which are sorted with the SH800 Cell Sorter.

Dr. Tan applied these methods to investigate the development of the eye, nose, and brain. In the eye, a unique structure that facilitates light concentration at night was discovered. In the nose, hubs connecting genes and their enhancers were revealed. In the brain, changes in genes, their activity, and 3D structure during development were closely monitored. The full spectrum of genetic changes in brain cells in the absence of any specific disease or pathology was documented, and significant shifts in gene activity and 3D structure were observed during early life in mice. More recently, Dr. Tan identified lasting changes in genome structure in cerebellar granule cells in both humans and mice. These findings shed light on 3D genome regulation in aging and have wide-ranging applications in medicine.

Key learning objectives

• Explore the role of 3D genome structure in gene transcription and its links to neurological diseases.
• Discover how alterations in chromatin contacts during the lifespans of humans and mice affect genome regulation during aging.
• Learn a method to obtain single-cell chromatin contact maps and 3D genome structure with the assistance of the SH800 Cell Sorter.

Who should attend?

Researchers who want to explore 3D genome structure in gene transcription and alterations in chromatin contacts, and their links to neurological disease and aging in humans and mice, and who want to learn a method to obtain this information using the SH800 Cell Sorter.

Certificate of attendance
All webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes.