Super‐resolution structure of DNA significantly differs in buccal cells of controls and Alzheimer's patients

The advent of super‐resolution microscopy allowed for new insights into cellular and physiological processes of normal and diseased cells. In this study, we report for the first time on the super‐resolved DNA structure of buccal cells from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) versus age‐ and gender‐matched healthy, non‐caregiver controls. In this super‐resolution study cohort of 74 participants, buccal cells were collected and their spatial DNA organization in the nucleus examined by 3D Structured Illumination Microscopy (3D‐SIM). Quantitation of the super‐resolution DNA structure revealed that the nuclear super‐resolution DNA structure of individuals with AD significantly differs from that of their controls (p < 0.05) with an overall increase in the measured DNA‐free/poor spaces. This represents a significant increase in the interchromatin compartment. We also find that the DNA structure of AD significantly differs in mild, moderate, and severe disease with respect to the DNA‐containing and DNA‐free/poor spaces. We conclude that whole genome remodeling is a feature of buccal cells in AD.