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Updated: May 19, 2026

In-Nucleus Hi-C in Drosophila Cells
Published on: September 15, 2021
tDNA insulators and the emerging role of TFIIIC in genome organization
Kevin Van Bortle1, Victor G Corces
1Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Abstract:
Recent findings provide evidence that tDNAs function as chromatin insulators from yeast to humans. TFIIIC, a transcription factor that interacts with the B-box in tDNAs as well as thousands of ETC sites in the genome, is responsible for insulator function. Though tDNAs are capable of enhancer-blocking and barrier activities for which insulators are defined, new insights into the relationship between insulators and chromatin structure suggest that TFIIIC serves a complex role in genome organization. We review the role of tRNA genes and TFIIIC as chromatin insulators, and highlight recent findings that have broadened our understanding of insulators in genome biology.
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