Higher-order chromatin structure is tightly linked to gene expression and therefore cell identity. In recent years, the chromatin landscape of pluripotent stem cells has become better characterized, and unique features at various architectural levels have been revealed. However, the mechanisms that govern establishment and maintenance of these topological characteristics and the temporal and functional relationships with transcriptional or epigenetic features are still areas of intense study. Here, we will discuss progress and limitations of our current understanding regarding how the 3D chromatin topology of pluripotent stem cells is established during somatic cell reprogramming and maintained during cell division. We will also discuss evidence and theories about the driving forces of topological reorganization and the functional links with key features and properties of pluripotent stem cell identity.

高阶染色质结构与基因表达以及细胞身份紧密相关。近年来，多能干细胞的染色质景观已得到更好的表征，并揭示了不同结构水平的独特特征。然而，控制这些拓扑特征的建立和维持的机制以及与转录或表观遗传特征的时间和功能关系仍然是深入研究的领域。在这里，我们将讨论我们目前对多能干细胞的 3D 染色质拓扑结构如何在体细胞重编程过程中建立并在细胞分裂过程中维持的理解的进展和局限性。我们还将讨论有关拓扑重组驱动力的证据和理论，以及与多能干细胞身份的关键特征和特性的功能联系。