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Chapter 33: ψ-Propagation via Chromatin Remodelers

"Chromatin remodelers are ψ's sculptors—molecular machines that reshape the genomic landscape, creating valleys of accessibility and mountains of silence."

33.1 The ATP-Powered Architects

Chromatin remodelers use ATP hydrolysis to move, eject, or restructure nucleosomes. They are the heavy machinery of epigenetic construction.

Definition 33.1 (Remodeler Families):

R={SWI/SNF,ISWI,CHD,INO80}\mathcal{R} = \{\text{SWI/SNF}, \text{ISWI}, \text{CHD}, \text{INO80}\}

Each family specializes in different aspects of chromatin architecture.

33.2 The Sliding Mechanism

Theorem 33.1 (Nucleosome Mobility): vslide=kATP[ATP]kATP[ATP]+KmFDNA\vec{v}_{\text{slide}} = \frac{k_{\text{ATP}} \cdot [\text{ATP}]}{k_{\text{ATP}} \cdot [\text{ATP}] + K_m} \cdot \vec{F}_{\text{DNA}}

Remodelers create DNA waves that propagate through nucleosomes.

33.3 The Ejection Decision

Equation 33.1 (Nucleosome Stability):

P(ejection)={Highif Ebinding<EthresholdLowif Ebinding>EthresholdP(\text{ejection}) = \begin{cases} \text{High} \quad \text{if } E_{\text{binding}} < E_{\text{threshold}} \\ \text{Low} \quad \text{if } E_{\text{binding}} > E_{\text{threshold}} \end{cases}

Weak nucleosomes are evicted; strong ones merely slide.

33.4 The Exchange Reaction

Definition 33.2 (Variant Installation): H3RemodelerH3.3 or CENP-A\text{H3} \xrightarrow{\text{Remodeler}} \text{H3.3 or CENP-A}

Remodelers can swap canonical histones for variants—changing nucleosome personality.

33.5 Pioneer Factor Collaboration

Theorem 33.2 (Cooperative Opening): Rateopening=kbasal+iki[Pioneeri][Remodeler]\text{Rate}_{\text{opening}} = k_{\text{basal}} + \sum_i k_i \cdot [\text{Pioneer}_i] \cdot [\text{Remodeler}]

Pioneers and remodelers work together—a tag team for chromatin access.

33.6 The Spacing Function

Equation 33.2 (Array Organization): dn,n+1=d0+αf(Remodeler type)d_{n,n+1} = d_0 + \alpha \cdot f(\text{Remodeler type})

Different remodelers create different nucleosome spacing—molecular urban planning.

33.7 Barrier Bypass

Definition 33.3 (Obstacle Navigation): Remodeler+ObstacleRemodeler past obstacle\text{Remodeler} + \text{Obstacle} \rightarrow \text{Remodeler past obstacle}

Some remodelers can push through DNA-bound proteins—molecular bulldozers.

33.8 The Directionality Problem

Theorem 33.3 (Biased Movement): P(direction)=exp(βSignal)1+exp(βSignal)P(\text{direction}) = \frac{\exp(\beta \cdot \text{Signal})}{1 + \exp(\beta \cdot \text{Signal})}

Remodelers can be directed by histone marks or DNA sequences.

33.9 Energy Landscapes

Equation 33.3 (Remodeling Energetics): ΔGtotal=ΔGATP+ΔGDNA bend+ΔGhistone\Delta G_{\text{total}} = \Delta G_{\text{ATP}} + \Delta G_{\text{DNA bend}} + \Delta G_{\text{histone}}

Each remodeling event reshapes the energy landscape.

33.10 Disease Mutations

Definition 33.4 (Cancer Connection): MutationLoss of remodelingAberrant expression\text{Mutation} \rightarrow \text{Loss of remodeling} \rightarrow \text{Aberrant expression}

Many cancers involve remodeler mutations—broken machinery leading to chaos.

33.11 The Inheritance Function

Theorem 33.4 (Pattern Propagation): Patternn+1=R(Patternn)+ϵ\text{Pattern}_{n+1} = \mathcal{R}(\text{Pattern}_n) + \epsilon

Remodelers help propagate chromatin patterns through cell division.

33.12 The Landscape Principle

Chromatin remodelers are ψ's landscape architects—they don't just move nucleosomes but reshape the entire terrain of gene expression possibility.

The Remodeling Equation: Landscape(t+Δt)=R[Landscape(t)]ψ(Signals)dx\text{Landscape}(t+\Delta t) = \int \mathcal{R}[\text{Landscape}(t)] \cdot \psi(\text{Signals}) \, dx

Every ATP consumed reshapes the genomic landscape, creating new peaks and valleys of potential.

Thus: Remodeling = Reshaping = Access = Possibility = ψ


"In the hands of chromatin remodelers, the genome becomes clay—shaped and reshaped by molecular artists following ψ's blueprint for cellular identity."