Publications
2026
1.
Masa A. Shimazoe, Shiori Iida, Katsuhiko Minami, Koichi Higashi, Sachiko Tamura, Yoshiaki Kobayashi, Shin Fujishiro, Le Xiong, Kako Nakazato, S. S. Ashwin, Tomoko Nishiyama, Yu Nagata, Masato T. Kanemaki, Akane Kawaguchi, Yasuyuki Ohkawa, Lothar Schermelleh, Atsushi Toyoda, Liangqi Xie, Ken Kurokawa, Hiroshi Ochiai, Masaki Sasai, Kazuhiro Maeshima
Cohesin prevents local mixing of condensed euchromatic domains in living human cells Journal Article
In: Nature Genetics, vol. 58, no. 9, pp. 2335–2349, 2026, ISSN: 1546-1718.
Abstract | Links | タグ: Kawaguchi G, Nishiyama G, Ochiai G, Ohkawa G
@article{Shimazoe2026,
title = {Cohesin prevents local mixing of condensed euchromatic domains in living human cells},
author = {Masa A. Shimazoe and Shiori Iida and Katsuhiko Minami and Koichi Higashi and Sachiko Tamura and Yoshiaki Kobayashi and Shin Fujishiro and Le Xiong and Kako Nakazato and S. S. Ashwin and Tomoko Nishiyama and Yu Nagata and Masato T. Kanemaki and Akane Kawaguchi and Yasuyuki Ohkawa and Lothar Schermelleh and Atsushi Toyoda and Liangqi Xie and Ken Kurokawa and Hiroshi Ochiai and Masaki Sasai and Kazuhiro Maeshima},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-026-02736-2},
doi = {10.1038/s41588-026-02736-2},
issn = {1546-1718},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-09-08},
urldate = {2026-09-08},
journal = {Nature Genetics},
volume = {58},
number = {9},
pages = {2335--2349},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {The human genome is folded into chromatin loops by the cohesin complex, forming functional chromatin domains that underlie transcription and DNA replication/repair. However, how cohesin organizes these domains in living cells, especially in active euchromatin, remains elusive. Here, to address this question, we combined single-nucleosome imaging/tracking and super-resolution three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy with euchromatin-specific labeling of histone variant H3.3. Using this nanoscopic approach, we revealed that euchromatin forms condensed domains that are constrained by cohesin-mediated loops. This organization refines the classical view of euchromatin as largely open, in line with emerging evidence. Transcription machinery appears to be located near the condensed domain surfaces/borders. Cohesin loss increased nucleosome-level fluidity within these domains without altering their overall compaction, leading to local mixing of domains and compromising transcriptional insulation. These findings suggest a physical role of cohesin in maintaining the integrity of condensed euchromatic domains and ensuring proper higher-order regulation of gene expression.},
keywords = {Kawaguchi G, Nishiyama G, Ochiai G, Ohkawa G},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The human genome is folded into chromatin loops by the cohesin complex, forming functional chromatin domains that underlie transcription and DNA replication/repair. However, how cohesin organizes these domains in living cells, especially in active euchromatin, remains elusive. Here, to address this question, we combined single-nucleosome imaging/tracking and super-resolution three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy with euchromatin-specific labeling of histone variant H3.3. Using this nanoscopic approach, we revealed that euchromatin forms condensed domains that are constrained by cohesin-mediated loops. This organization refines the classical view of euchromatin as largely open, in line with emerging evidence. Transcription machinery appears to be located near the condensed domain surfaces/borders. Cohesin loss increased nucleosome-level fluidity within these domains without altering their overall compaction, leading to local mixing of domains and compromising transcriptional insulation. These findings suggest a physical role of cohesin in maintaining the integrity of condensed euchromatic domains and ensuring proper higher-order regulation of gene expression.
