Chromatin reorganization as a major factor in the control of nuclear stiffness

DNA organization on chromatin has been largely studied for its consequences in gene expression, but its contribution to the cell mechanics is often neglected despite the nucleus being the stiffest organelle in the cell. Here, we show that MeCP2 directly increases the nuclear stiffness in a similar fashion as it clusters the heterochromatin. Moreover, we show how this phenomenon occurs during cellular differentiation and how it can be disrupted by mutations related to diseases.