Chromosome Conformation Capture

Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C) is a laboratory technique used to study how different parts of DNA inside a cell nucleus interact and are organized in three-dimensional space. Since DNA isn't just a linear string but folds and loops, 3C helps identify which regions are close together physically, influencing gene regulation. The method involves crosslinking the DNA to freeze interactions, cutting it with enzymes, and then ligating (joining) nearby pieces that were close in 3D space. Analyzing these ligated pieces reveals the spatial arrangement of genes and regulatory elements, providing insight into gene function and genome organization.