MIT uncovers two distinct chromatin motion patterns in groundbreaking study

MIT researchers have measured chromatin movement across an unprecedented range of timescales. Their study, spanning from microseconds to hours, reveals two distinct types of motion within cells. The findings challenge existing models of how chromatin behaves inside the nucleus. The team used MINFLUX, a cutting-edge super-resolution microscopy technique, to track chromatin dynamics over extended periods. This allowed them to observe movement across four orders of magnitude—from 200 microseconds to 10 seconds—and seven orders in total, up to several hours.

Two clear classes of behaviour emerged. On short and intermediate timescales, chromatin showed constrained movement, mostly interacting with nearby genomic regions. This localised motion supports key processes like DNA repair and gene regulation. Over longer timescales, however, chromatin moved more freely, enabling contact with distant regions along the genome.

Gene expression relies on these interactions between genes and regulatory elements. The study suggests that current models, such as the Rouse and fractal globule theories, may no longer fully explain the observed dynamics.

Funding for the research came from multiple sources, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Pew-Stewart Scholar for Cancer Research Award, and the Bridge Project. The discovery of these two motion patterns provides new insight into chromatin’s role in cellular function. By quantifying its behaviour over vastly different timescales, the work opens doors for revising long-held theories. Future research may build on these findings to better understand gene regulation and DNA maintenance.