Mechanistic Modelling of Chromatin Folding to Understand Function

TL;DR

This paper reviews how mechanistic modeling and polymer simulations help interpret complex chromatin organization data, aiding understanding of genome function.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive guide for biologists on various simulation approaches used to mechanistically interpret chromatin folding and function.

Findings

Polymer simulations explain experimental chromatin organization data.

Mechanistic models link chromatin structure to genome function.

Guidance on simulation methods for biological research.

Abstract

Experimental approaches have been applied to address questions in understanding three-dimensional chromatin organisation and function. As datasets increase in size and complexity, it becomes a challenge to reach a mechanistic interpretation of experimental results. Polymer simulations and mechanistic modelling have been applied to explain experimental observations, and the links to different aspects of genome function. Here, we provide a guide for biologists, explaining different simulation approaches and the contexts in which they have been used.