DOI

Abstract: Two physical models are considered to describe the large-scale structure of chromatin in the nucleus of a biological cell in the interphase state: a fractal globule model and a logarithmic fractal model. Based on the classification of fractal objects developed by the small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) method, it is shown that the fractal globule model does not satisfy the experimental data on small-angle neutron scattering by the nuclei of biological cells. Conversely, the logarithmic fractal model well describes the experimental data on SANS and, hence, provides a good approximation to describe the large-scale structure of chromatin. The logarithmic fractal model predicts that the nuclear space is exactly half-filled with chromatin, and the second half consists of interchromatin voids filled with nucleoplasma in which various nuclear processes occur. Thus, two opposing trends are balanced in the structural organization of chromatin: an increase in the surface area of chromatin in the cell nucleus (accessibility to external agents) and a decrease in the volume occupied by chromatin (compactness of the nucleus).

Язык оригиналаанглийский
Страницы (с-по)455-458
Число страниц4
ЖурналJournal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics
Том129
Номер выпуска3
DOI
СостояниеОпубликовано - 1 сен 2019

    Предметные области Scopus

  • Физика и астрономия (все)

ID: 85653813