We have focused attention on the 1.2 kb insulator DNA sequence at the 5 end of the chicken beta-globin locus, and elements upstream of it. This insulator is capable both of blocking the influence of outside enhancers and of preventing the encroachment of condensed chromatin that might shut down expression of the entire region. We have shown previously that enhancer blocking activity is associated with binding of a single protein, CTCF, to a site within the enhancer. We have shown that this protein is responsible for regulation of imprinted gene expression at several imprinted loci. In order to understand the mechanism of action of CTCF we have determined the minimum CTCF fragment that can bind to its target DNA site with full affinity. We have also continue to extend our earlier studies showing that CTCF molecules interact with one another. This provides important information for design of proteins that can modulate CTCF function within the nucleus. Among the interactions now under investigation is the CTCF self-interaction to form dimers, and the interaction of CTCF with the cohesin protein complex, recently shown in the laboratories of Matthias Merkenschlager and others to be essential to the recruitment of cohesin to DNA at some stages of the cell cycle. We are collaborating with Dr. Merkenschlager in dissecting this interaction.
| Giles, K E; Gowher, H; Ghirlando, R et al. (2010) Chromatin boundaries, insulators, and long-range interactions in the nucleus. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 75:79-85 |
| Aker, Mari; Tubb, Julie; Groth, Amy C et al. (2007) Extended core sequences from the cHS4 insulator are necessary for protecting retroviral vectors from silencing position effects. Hum Gene Ther 18:333-43 |
| Renda, Mario; Baglivo, Ilaria; Burgess-Beusse, Bonnie et al. (2007) Critical DNA binding interactions of the insulator protein CTCF: a small number of zinc fingers mediate strong binding, and a single finger-DNA interaction controls binding at imprinted loci. J Biol Chem 282:33336-45 |
