The human genome is tightly packed into the 3D environment of the cell nucleus. Rapidly evolving and sophisticated methods of mapping 3D genome architecture have shed light on fundamental principles of genome organization and gene regulation. The genome is physically organized on different scales, from individual genes to entire chromosomes. Nuclear landmarks such as the nuclear envelope and nucleoli have important roles in compartmentalizing the genome within the nucleus. Genome activity (for example, gene transcription) is also functionally partitioned within this 3D organization. Rather than being static, the 3D organization of the genome is tightly regulated over various time scales. These dynamic changes in genome structure over time represent the fourth dimension of the genome. Innovative methods have been used to map the dynamic regulation of genome structure during important cellular processes including organism development, responses to stimuli, cell division and senescence. Furthermore, disruptions to the 4D genome have been linked to various diseases, including of the kidney. As tools and approaches to studying the 4D genome become more readily available, future studies that apply these methods to study kidney biology will provide insights into kidney function in health and disease.

人类基因组紧紧地包装在细胞核的 3D 环境中。快速发展和复杂的 3D 基因组结构图谱绘制方法阐明了基因组组织和基因调控的基本原理。基因组在物理上组织在不同尺度上，从单个基因到整个染色体。核标志（如核膜和核仁）在细胞核内划分基因组方面起着重要作用。基因组活性（例如，基因转录）也在这个 3D 组织内进行功能分区。基因组的 3D 组织不是静态的，而是在各种时间尺度上受到严格调节。基因组结构随时间的这些动态变化代表了基因组的第四维。创新方法已被用于绘制重要细胞过程中基因组结构的动态调控，包括生物体发育、对刺激的反应、细胞分裂和衰老。此外，4D 基因组的破坏与各种疾病有关，包括肾脏疾病。随着研究 4D 基因组的工具和方法变得越来越容易获得，未来应用这些方法研究肾脏生物学的研究将提供对健康和疾病中肾功能的见解。