Raising the curtains on interchromosomal interactions.
The chromosome conformation capture technique is used to monitor intra- and intermolecular chromosomal associations. By introducing an adaptation of this technique, Ling and colleagues have identified an unexpected coassociation between two loci on separate chromosomes in mouse nuclei, the imprinted Igf2-H19 locus of chromosome 7 and the Wsb1-Nf1 locus of chromosome 11. Strikingly, this interaction is CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)-dependent and strictly allele specific. These findings extend our appreciation for genome organization and its influence on gene expression and imprinting.
Krueger
Christel
C
Laboratory of Developmental Genetics and Imprinting, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB2 4AT, UK. christel.krueger@bbsrc.ac.uk
Osborne
Cameron S
CS
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D000076246:CCCTC-Binding Factor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics*; D018899:CpG Islands; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016678:Genome; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D000076246:CCCTC-Binding Factor; C000619698:Ctcf protein, mouse; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins