CTCF establishes discrete functional chromatin domains at the Hox clusters during differentiation

摘要: Polycomb and Trithorax group proteins encode the epigenetic memory of cellular positional identity by establishing inheritable domains repressive active chromatin within Hox clusters. Here we demonstrate that CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) functions to insulate these adjacent yet antagonistic during embryonic stem cell differentiation into cervical motor neurons. Deletion CTCF binding sites clusters results in expansion domain. as an insulator organizing spatially disjoint domains. Ablation disrupts topological boundaries such caudal genes leave repressed domain become subject transcriptional activation. Hence, is required facultative heterochromatin from impinging euchromatin produce discrete identities.