Project description:Although the majority of genomic binding sites for the insulator protein CTCF are constitutively occupied, a subset show variable occupancy. Such variable sites provide an opportunity to assess context-specific CTCF functions in gene regulation. Here we have identified a variably occupied CTCF site in the Ultrabithorax (Ubx) gene in Drosophila. This site is occupied in tissues where Ubx is active (third thoracic imaginal leg disc) but is not bound in tissues where the Ubx gene is repressed (first thoracic imaginal leg disc).
Project description:Although the majority of genomic binding sites for the insulator protein CTCF are constitutively occupied, a subset show variable occupancy. Such variable sites provide an opportunity to assess context-specific CTCF functions in gene regulation. Here we have identified a variably occupied CTCF site in the Ultrabithorax (Ubx) gene in Drosophila. This site is occupied in tissues where Ubx is active (third thoracic imaginal leg disc) but is not bound in tissues where the Ubx gene is repressed (first thoracic imaginal leg disc). Comparison of CTCF binding in T1 leg disc vs T3 leg disc in from 3rd instar larva
Project description:CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a DNA-binding protein that plays important roles in chromatin organization, though the mechanism by which CTCF carries out these functions is not fully understood. Recent studies show that CTCF recruits the cohesin complex to insulator sites and that cohesin is required for insulator activity. Here we have shown that the DEAD box RNA helicase p68 (DDX5) and its associated noncoding RNA, steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA), form a complex with CTCF that is essential for insulator function. p68 was detected at CTCF sites in the IGF2/H19 imprinted control region (ICR) as well as other genomic CTCF sites. In vivo depletion of SRA or p68 reduced CTCF-mediated insulator activity at the IGF2/H19 ICR, increased levels of IGF2 expression, and increased interactions between the endodermal enhancer and IGF2 promoter. p68/SRA also interacts with members of the cohesin complex. Depletion of either p68 or SRA does not affect CTCF binding to its genomic sites, but it does reduce cohesin binding. The results suggest that p68/SRA stabilizes the interaction of cohesin with CTCF, by binding to both, and is required for proper insulator function. Identification of p68-binding sites in Hela cells using ChIP-Seq.
Project description:CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a DNA-binding protein that plays important roles in chromatin organization, though the mechanism by which CTCF carries out these functions is not fully understood. Recent studies show that CTCF recruits the cohesin complex to insulator sites and that cohesin is required for insulator activity. Here we have shown that the DEAD box RNA helicase p68 (DDX5) and its associated noncoding RNA, steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA), form a complex with CTCF that is essential for insulator function. p68 was detected at CTCF sites in the IGF2/H19 imprinted control region (ICR) as well as other genomic CTCF sites. In vivo depletion of SRA or p68 reduced CTCF-mediated insulator activity at the IGF2/H19 ICR, increased levels of IGF2 expression, and increased interactions between the endodermal enhancer and IGF2 promoter. p68/SRA also interacts with members of the cohesin complex. Depletion of either p68 or SRA does not affect CTCF binding to its genomic sites, but it does reduce cohesin binding. The results suggest that p68/SRA stabilizes the interaction of cohesin with CTCF, by binding to both, and is required for proper insulator function.
Project description:CTCF and Cp190 proteins are implicated at many insulator elements throughout Drosophila genome. Here we compared Hi-C maps, transcriptomes and binding of multiple insulator proteins in cultured Drosophila cells derived from CTCF-KO, Cp190-KO and control embryos.
Project description:There is considerable evidence that insulator elements are likely to play a key role in the organisation of the regulatory architecture of the genome. In Drosophila, one of the best studied insulator elements is the gypsy insulator in the gypsy retrotransposon whose function is dependent on the Su(Hw) Zn-finger DNA binding protein. Although there are several hundred Su(Hw) sites in the genome which are proposed to act as endogenous insulator elements, analysis of the role of the Su(Hw) protein has focussed on the gypsy insulator and few endogenous sites have yet been identified. We have used chromatin immunopurification coupled to genomic microarray analysis to identify Su(Hw) binding sites within a representative region of the Drosophila genome; the 3MB Adh region on chromosome 2L. We have located about 60 Su(Hw) binding sites across this region and this has enabled us to construct a robust new Su(Hw) binding site consensus based on these in vivo sites. In contrast to the gypsy insulator which contains 12 Su(Hw) binding sites within 340bp, the endogenous sites are not present in clusters. We identify two key features of these endogenous Su(Hw) sites. Firstly, in contrast to most analyses of DNA binding protein specificity, we find that strong matches to the binding consensus are good predictors of binding site occupancy. Secondly, examination of Su(Hw) binding site occupancy in 0-20hr embryos, 3rd larval instar brains or 3rd larval imaginal discs reveals a constant pattern of Su(Hw) binding indicating that most , if not all Su(Hw) sites are constitutively occupied. These two features support a constant genomic architectural role for the Su(Hw) protein. Keywords: ChIP-chip
Project description:We mapped the localization of insulator proteins in Drosophila S2 cells in the presence or absence of 12mM of 3AB. We found that inhibition of PARylation affects DNA binding of insulator proteins only at a small subsets of genomic sites. Examination of genomic occupancy for insulator proteins in S2 cells with or without 3AB inhibition.
Project description:CTCF and Cp190 proteins are implicated at many insulator elements throughout Drosophila genome. Here we compared Hi-C maps, transcriptomes and binding of multiple insulator proteins in cultured Drosophila cells derived from CTCF-KO, Cp190-KO and control embryos.
Project description:CTCF and Cp190 proteins are implicated at many insulator elements throughout Drosophila genome. Here we compared Hi-C maps, transcriptomes and binding of multiple insulator proteins in cultured Drosophila cells derived from CTCF-KO, Cp190-KO and control embryos.