Exp Mol Med.  2015 Jun;47(6):e166. 10.1038/emm.2015.33.

CTCF as a multifunctional protein in genome regulation and gene expression

• Kim S
• Yu NK
• Kaang BK

• KMID: 2155420
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/emm.2015.33

Abstract

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a highly conserved zinc finger protein and is best known as a transcription factor. It can function as a transcriptional activator, a repressor or an insulator protein, blocking the communication between enhancers and promoters. CTCF can also recruit other transcription factors while bound to chromatin domain boundaries. The three-dimensional organization of the eukaryotic genome dictates its function, and CTCF serves as one of the core architectural proteins that help establish this organization. The mapping of CTCF-binding sites in diverse species has revealed that the genome is covered with CTCF-binding sites. Here we briefly describe the diverse roles of CTCF that contribute to genome organization and gene expression.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism
Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/metabolism
*Gene Expression Regulation
Genome
Humans
Protein Binding
Protein Interaction Maps
Repressor Proteins/analysis/*metabolism
Cell Cycle Proteins
Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
Repressor Proteins