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CTCF and cohesin: linking gene regulatory elements with their targets
Matthias Merkenschlager1, Duncan T Odom
1Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK. matthias.merkenschlager@csc.mrc.ac.uk
Cell
|March 19, 2013
Summary
CTCF and cohesin proteins coordinate long-range interactions between DNA elements. Transposable elements can alter these interactions, potentially forming cell-type-specific gene networks.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Epigenomics identifies regulatory DNA elements and maps interactions.
- CTCF and cohesin are key proteins involved in genome organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the roles of CTCF and cohesin in coordinating long-range regulatory element interactions.
- To investigate the influence of transposable elements on these interactions.
- To understand how these interactions form cell-type-specific transcriptional networks.
Main Methods:
- Review of current epigenomics approaches.
- Analysis of CTCF and cohesin binding data.
- Examination of the impact of transposable elements on regulatory networks.
Main Results:
- CTCF and cohesin play crucial roles in mediating long-range interactions.
- Species-specific transposable elements can modify CTCF binding sites.
- Cohesin links enhancers, promoters, and CTCF sites.
Conclusions:
- CTCF and cohesin facilitate the formation of developmentally regulated gene networks.
- These networks are essential for cell-type-specific gene expression.
- Transposable elements contribute to the plasticity of regulatory interactions.
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