Problem:
I am reading a paper which discusses a complex (MSL-DCC) involved in dosage compensation of the drosophila X-chromosome. Descriptions of the complex's structure and function are given in the papers introduction.
Required:
Question: What is chromatin shearing?
Question: What is happening during the process?
Secondly, the authors then say:
"Our data suggest that the complex is particularly sensitive to shear forces on transcribed chromatin so that only the direct interactions on MSL-3 with nucleosomes are retained" - discussion section (subheading: interaction of the MSL-DCC with target gene bodies)
Required:
Question: Could someone explain what is meant by 'particularly sensitive to shear forces'? In comparison to what?
Question: What are the consequences of it being more sensitive?
Any ideas? Or better yet, pointers to places where this has already been answered