Three-dimensional genome architecture persists in a 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth skin sample.
Cell
; 187(14): 3541-3562.e51, 2024 Jul 11.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38996487
ABSTRACT
Analyses of ancient DNA typically involve sequencing the surviving short oligonucleotides and aligning to genome assemblies from related, modern species. Here, we report that skin from a female woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) that died 52,000 years ago retained its ancient genome architecture. We use PaleoHi-C to map chromatin contacts and assemble its genome, yielding 28 chromosome-length scaffolds. Chromosome territories, compartments, loops, Barr bodies, and inactive X chromosome (Xi) superdomains persist. The active and inactive genome compartments in mammoth skin more closely resemble Asian elephant skin than other elephant tissues. Our analyses uncover new biology. Differences in compartmentalization reveal genes whose transcription was potentially altered in mammoths vs. elephants. Mammoth Xi has a tetradic architecture, not bipartite like human and mouse. We hypothesize that, shortly after this mammoth's death, the sample spontaneously freeze-dried in the Siberian cold, leading to a glass transition that preserved subfossils of ancient chromosomes at nanometer scale.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pele
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Genoma
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Mamutes
Limite:
Animals
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Female
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article