Robust 3D modelling reveals spatiosyntenic properties of animal genomes

Abstract Animal genomes are organized into chromosomes that are remarkably conserved in their gene content, forming distinct evolutionary units (macrosynteny). We developed a novel three-dimensional chromosomal modelling approach to show that syntenic signals are reflected in conserved three-dimensional networks, encompassed within interaction spheres. We show evidence for evolutionary constraints that could not be surmised by genomic sequence alone, thereby underlining the importance of three-, rather than just two-, dimensional organization.