4D nucleome landscape reveals dissolution of bipartite active X chromosome in liver cancer development.

Bipartite active X chromosome structure dissolves in liver cancer, with significant implications for tumor development.

• Why it matters: Understanding chromosome organization changes in cancer can reveal mechanisms driving tumor progression, especially for the X chromosome, which has been understudied in this context.
• What they did: Using F1 hybrid mice and human tissues, the study analyzed chromosome conformation, gene activation, and structural changes, including CRISPR-Cas3-mediated boundary deletion, across 4D nucleome landscapes.
• The result: Disruption of the bipartite X chromosome conformation promotes premalignant transitions, indicating that X chromosome structural changes are key drivers in hepatocellular carcinoma development.