Project description:CTCF is necessary for the formation and maintenance of many DNA loops and Topologically Associating Domains, but the genomic features that influence CTCF looping are incompletely understood. We characterized the downstream effects of treating cells with a DNMT1 inhibitor and acute depletion of nuclear speckles to study the factors that influence CTCF looping.
Project description:CTCF is necessary for the formation and maintenance of many DNA loops and Topologically Associating Domains, but the genomic features that influence CTCF looping are incompletely understood. We characterized the downstream effects of treating cells with a DNMT1 inhibitor and acute depletion of nuclear speckles to study the factors that influence CTCF looping.
Project description:CTCF is necessary for the formation and maintenance of many DNA loops and Topologically Associating Domains, but the genomic features that influence CTCF looping are incompletely understood. We characterized the downstream effects of treating cells with a DNMT1 inhibitor and acute depletion of nuclear speckles to study the factors that influence CTCF looping.
Project description:CTCF is necessary for the formation and maintenance of many DNA loops and Topologically Associating Domains, but the genomic features that influence CTCF looping are incompletely understood. We characterized the downstream effects of treating cells with a DNMT1 inhibitor and acute depletion of nuclear speckles to study the factors that influence CTCF looping.
Project description:Chromosome loops shift dynamically during development, homeostasis, and disease. CTCF is known to anchor loops and construct 3D genomes, but how anchor sites are selected is not yet understood. Here we unveil Jpx RNA as a determinant of anchor selectivity. Jpx RNA targets thousands of genomic sites, preferentially binding promoters of active genes. Depleting Jpx RNA causes ectopic CTCF binding, massive shifts in chromosome looping, and downregulation of >700 Jpx target genes. Without Jpx, thousands of lost loops are replaced by de novo loops anchored by ectopic CTCF sites. Although Jpx controls CTCF binding on a genome-wide basis, it acts selectively at the subset of developmentally sensitive CTCF sites. Specifically, Jpx targets low-affinity CTCF motifs and displaces CTCF protein through competitive inhibition. We conclude that Jpx acts as a CTCF release factor and shapes the 3D genome by regulating anchor site usage.