Figure 2: Model for HP1-heterochromatin.

HP1 compacts chromatin into phase separated liquid droplets. This process relies on HP1 ability to: (a) bind and bridge across nucleosomes, (b) self-oligomerize, (c) and increase dynamics in the nucleosome core. Distorted nucleosomes expose buried regions of the histone core and enable inter-nucleosome interactions that drive chromatin phase separation. HP1 dimers are shown in pink.