Permeable TAD boundaries and their impact on genome-associated functions.

Chang L-H., Noordermeer D.

TAD boundaries are genomic elements that separate biological processes in neighboring domains by blocking DNA loops that are formed through Cohesin-mediated loop extrusion. Most TAD boundaries consist of arrays of binding sites for the CTCF protein, whose interaction with the Cohesin complex blocks loop extrusion. TAD boundaries are not fully impermeable though and allow a limited amount of inter-TAD loop formation. Based on the reanalysis of Nano-C data, a multicontact Chromosome Conformation Capture assay, we propose a model whereby clustered CTCF binding sites promote the successive stalling of Cohesin and subsequent dissociation from the chromatin. A fraction of Cohesin nonetheless achieves boundary read-through. Due to a constant rate of Cohesin dissociation elsewhere in the genome, the maximum length of inter-TAD loops is restricted though. We speculate that the DNA-encoded organization of stalling sites regulates TAD boundary permeability and discuss implications for enhancer-promoter loop formation and other genomic processes.

DOI

10.1002/bies.202400137

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2024-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

46

Keywords

3D genome organization, CTCF, Cohesin, Topologically Associating Domains, enhancer–promoter looping, gene regulation, loop extrusion, Animals, Humans, Binding Sites, CCCTC-Binding Factor, Cell Cycle Proteins, Chromatin, Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone, Cohesins, DNA, Enhancer Elements, Genetic, Genome, Promoter Regions, Genetic

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