Chromatin Tagging Systems Contribute to Live Imaging Analyses for Chromatin Dynamics

Abstract

Chromatin tagging systems are based on bacterial operator/repressor systems combined with fluorescence proteins. They can visualize spatiotemporally the specific loci where the tandem array of an operator sequence is inserted and three-dimensionally analyze chromatin dynamics in a nucleus of living cells. This method in combination with RNA imaging or an induction system of DNA breaks make it possible to analyze chromatin dynamics at RNA transcription and DNA repair. Chromatin tagging systems are also applied to dynamic analyses of organelle genomes. In this review, we introduce their fundamental principles and recent applications.