Role of Chromatin Looping Factors in Leukemia

Genomic organization requires an intricate balance between the compact storage of genetic material and the ability to finely tune gene regulation. Chromatin looping achieves this balance by organizing concordantly regulated groups of genes and their regulatory elements into loops while also condensing DNA to fit into the small volume of a nucleus. A number of DNA-binding and associated proteins, including CTCF and cohesin, act as chromatin looping factors that mediate this process. Given the tight association between chromatin looping and gene expression, disordered genomic organization has been linked to disease development, including cancer. Recurrent mutations in chromatin looping factors are common in cancer, in particular blood cancers such as leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. In this review, we describe the evolution of our understanding of the chromatin looping process in healthy and malignant hematopoiesis and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting chromatin looping factors in leukemia.