Human body single-cell atlas of three-dimensional genome organization and DNA methylation

J Jingtian Zhou Y Yue Wu (Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) H Hanqing Liu W Wei Tian (Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) R Rosa G. Castanon (Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) A Anna Bartlett (Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) Z Zuolong Zhang (School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China.) G Guocong Yao (School of Computer and Information Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China.) D Dengxiaoyu Shi (Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) B Ben Clock (Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) S Samantha Marcotte (Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) J Joseph R. Nery M Michelle Liem (Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) N Naomi Claffey (Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) L Lara Boggeman (Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) C Cesar Barragan (Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) R Rafael Arrojo e Drigo (Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.) A Annika K. Weimer M Minyi Shi (Department of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.) J Johnathan Cooper-Knock (Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.) S Sai Zhang (Department of Biomedical Informatics & Data Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.) M Michael P. Snyder S Sebastian Preissl (Center for Epigenomics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.) B Bing Ren C Carolyn O’Connor (Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) S Shengbo Chen (School of Software, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.) C Chongyuan Luo (Department of Human Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.) J Jesse R. Dixon (Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.) J Joseph R. Ecker

Abstract

Higher-order chromatin structure and DNA methylation are critical for gene regulation, but how these vary across the human body remains unclear. We performed multiomic profiling of three-dimensional (3D) genome structure and DNA methylation for 86,689 single nuclei across 16 tissues, identifying 35 major and 206 cell subtypes. We revealed extensive changes in CG and non-CG methylation across cell types and characterized 3D chromatin structure at an unprecedented cellular resolution. Extensive discrepancies exist between cell types delineated by DNA methylation and genome structure, which indicates that the role of distinct epigenomic features in maintaining cell identity may vary by lineage. This study expands our understanding of the diversity of DNA methylation and chromatin structure and offers a reference for exploring gene regulation in human health and disease.

Article Details

Journal Science
Volume / Issue Vol. 393, Issue 6809
Published July 23, 2026
ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science

Journal Info

Science

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ISSN: 0036-8075 Social Sciences

Authors (29)

J

Jingtian Zhou

Y

Yue Wu

Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

H

Hanqing Liu

W

Wei Tian

Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

R

Rosa G. Castanon

Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

A

Anna Bartlett

Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Z

Zuolong Zhang

School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China.

G

Guocong Yao

School of Computer and Information Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China.

D

Dengxiaoyu Shi

Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

B

Ben Clock

Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

S

Samantha Marcotte

Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

J

Joseph R. Nery

M

Michelle Liem

Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

N

Naomi Claffey

Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

L

Lara Boggeman

Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

C

Cesar Barragan

Genomic Analysis Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

R

Rafael Arrojo e Drigo

Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.

A

Annika K. Weimer

M

Minyi Shi

Department of Genetics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.

J

Johnathan Cooper-Knock

Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.

S

Sai Zhang

Department of Biomedical Informatics & Data Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.

M

Michael P. Snyder

S

Sebastian Preissl

Center for Epigenomics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

B

Bing Ren

C

Carolyn O’Connor

Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

S

Shengbo Chen

School of Software, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

C

Chongyuan Luo

Department of Human Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

J

Jesse R. Dixon

Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.

J

Joseph R. Ecker