Chromatin insulators are DNA-protein complexes that promote specificity of enhancer-promoter interactions and maintain distinct transcriptional states through control of 3D genome organization. In this review, we highlight recent work visualizing how mammalian CCCTC-binding factor acts as a boundary to dynamic DNA loop extrusion mediated by cohesin. We also discuss new studies in both mammals and Drosophila that elucidate biological redundancy of chromatin insulator function and interplay with transcription with respect to topologically associating domain formation. Finally, we present novel concepts in spatiotemporal regulation of chromatin insulator function during differentiation and development and possible consequences of disrupted insulator activity on cellular proliferation.
Keyphrases
- gene expression
- transcription factor
- genome wide
- dna methylation
- dna binding
- dna damage
- circulating tumor
- binding protein
- cell free
- single molecule
- signaling pathway
- high resolution
- mass spectrometry
- nucleic acid
- resting state
- functional connectivity
- protein protein
- living cells
- oxidative stress
- heat shock
- fluorescent probe