Insulators and promoters: closer than we think
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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Promoter Capture Hi-C: High-resolution, Genome-wide Profiling of Promoter Interactions
Published on: June 28, 2018
Jesse R Raab1, Rohinton T Kamakaka
1Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, Sinsheimer Labs, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA.
Abstract:
Insulators prevent promiscuous gene regulation by restricting the action of enhancers and silencers. Recent studies have revealed a number of similarities between insulators and promoters, including binding of specific transcription factors, chromatin-modification signatures and localization to specific subnuclear positions. We propose that enhancer-blockers and silencing barrier-insulators might have evolved as specialized derivatives of promoters and that the two types of element use related mechanisms to mediate their distinct functions. These insights can help to reconcile different models of insulator action.
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