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Chromosome biology

CTCF-binding site orientation shapes the genome

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 16, pages 578–579 (2015)Cite this article

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The protocadherin-α (PCDHA) and protocadherin-γ (PCDHG) gene clusters contain dozens of alternatively expressed exons, most of which are preceded by a CBS-containing promoter. Using various chromosome conformation capture techniques, the authors found that the PCDH clusters are organized into two TAD-like, CTCF–cohesin-mediated chromatin domains. The CBS-containing HS51 enhancer, which lies between the PCDHA and PCDHG clusters, interacts with only the PCDHA cluster promoters in human cells and in mouse brain tissues and cells, whereas a newly identified enhancer (located downstream of the PCDH locus) interacts with the PCDHG cluster promoters. Importantly, the promoter CBSs were found to be in a forward orientation, whereas the enhancer CBSs were in the reverse orientation.

the orientation of enhancer CBSs is important for the three-dimensional architecture of the genome and for gene regulation

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References

  1. Guo, Y. et al. CRISPR inversion of CTCF sites alters genome topology and enhancer/promoter function. Cell 162, 900–910 (2015)

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  1. Eytan Zlotorynski
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Pombo, A. & Dillon, N. Three-dimensional genome architecture: players and mechanisms. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 16, 245–257 (2015)

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Zlotorynski, E. CTCF-binding site orientation shapes the genome. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 16, 578–579 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm4057

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