Heterogeneity as a feature: unraveling chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanics
Mechanical forces are a ubiquitous feature of the cellular environment. These forces propagate to the nucleus, where the mechanical response is critical for cellular function and survival. In addition to the nuclear lamina and cytoskeletal connections, chromatin is a key structural and mechanorespon...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Nucleus |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19491034.2025.2545037 |
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| author | Wessel S. Rodenburg Amy R. Strom Jorine M. Eeftens |
| author_facet | Wessel S. Rodenburg Amy R. Strom Jorine M. Eeftens |
| author_sort | Wessel S. Rodenburg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mechanical forces are a ubiquitous feature of the cellular environment. These forces propagate to the nucleus, where the mechanical response is critical for cellular function and survival. In addition to the nuclear lamina and cytoskeletal connections, chromatin is a key structural and mechanoresponsive element which not only contributes to bulk stiffness but also dynamically adapts its organization in response to mechanical stress. Crucially, chromatin is not a uniform material – its organization and mechanical properties vary across time, cell state, and even within individual nuclei. This heterogeneity underpins compartmentalization, gene regulation, and potentially, disease states when disrupted. In this review, we summarize recent experimental advances that have illuminated chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanics, emphasizing the importance of heterogeneity. We argue that an integrated, multiscale, and quantitative framework is essential for dissecting chromatin’s mechanical contributions. By doing so, the field will be better positioned to link nuclear mechanics to functional biological outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-414226fbd7ed49e2b13caf97e1472ff4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1949-1034 1949-1042 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nucleus |
| spelling | doaj-art-414226fbd7ed49e2b13caf97e1472ff42025-08-21T10:55:22ZengTaylor & Francis GroupNucleus1949-10341949-10422025-12-0116110.1080/19491034.2025.2545037Heterogeneity as a feature: unraveling chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanicsWessel S. Rodenburg0Amy R. Strom1Jorine M. Eeftens2Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USAInstitute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsMechanical forces are a ubiquitous feature of the cellular environment. These forces propagate to the nucleus, where the mechanical response is critical for cellular function and survival. In addition to the nuclear lamina and cytoskeletal connections, chromatin is a key structural and mechanoresponsive element which not only contributes to bulk stiffness but also dynamically adapts its organization in response to mechanical stress. Crucially, chromatin is not a uniform material – its organization and mechanical properties vary across time, cell state, and even within individual nuclei. This heterogeneity underpins compartmentalization, gene regulation, and potentially, disease states when disrupted. In this review, we summarize recent experimental advances that have illuminated chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanics, emphasizing the importance of heterogeneity. We argue that an integrated, multiscale, and quantitative framework is essential for dissecting chromatin’s mechanical contributions. By doing so, the field will be better positioned to link nuclear mechanics to functional biological outcomes.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19491034.2025.2545037Chromatingenome organizationheterogeneitymultiscale quantificationnuclear mechanics |
| spellingShingle | Wessel S. Rodenburg Amy R. Strom Jorine M. Eeftens Heterogeneity as a feature: unraveling chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanics Nucleus Chromatin genome organization heterogeneity multiscale quantification nuclear mechanics |
| title | Heterogeneity as a feature: unraveling chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanics |
| title_full | Heterogeneity as a feature: unraveling chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanics |
| title_fullStr | Heterogeneity as a feature: unraveling chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heterogeneity as a feature: unraveling chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanics |
| title_short | Heterogeneity as a feature: unraveling chromatin’s role in nuclear mechanics |
| title_sort | heterogeneity as a feature unraveling chromatin s role in nuclear mechanics |
| topic | Chromatin genome organization heterogeneity multiscale quantification nuclear mechanics |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19491034.2025.2545037 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wesselsrodenburg heterogeneityasafeatureunravelingchromatinsroleinnuclearmechanics AT amyrstrom heterogeneityasafeatureunravelingchromatinsroleinnuclearmechanics AT jorinemeeftens heterogeneityasafeatureunravelingchromatinsroleinnuclearmechanics |