TitleActive enhancers strengthen insulation by RNA-mediated CTCF binding at chromatin domain boundaries.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsIslam Z, Saravanan B, Walavalkar K, Farooq U, Singh AKumar, Sabarinathan R, Thakur J, Pandit A, Henikoff S, Notani D
JournalGenome Res
Date Published2023 Jan 17
ISSN1549-5469
Abstract

Vertebrate genomes are partitioned into chromatin domains or topologically associating domains (TADs), which are typically bound by head-to-head pairs of CTCF binding sites. Transcription at domain boundaries correlates with better insulation; however, it is not known whether the boundary transcripts themselves contribute to boundary function. Here we characterize boundary-associated RNAs genome-wide, focusing on the disease-relevant and TAD. Using CTCF site deletions and boundary-associated RNA knockdowns, we observe that boundary-associated RNAs facilitate recruitment and clustering of CTCF at TAD borders. The resulting CTCF enrichment enhances TAD insulation, enhancer-promoter interactions, and TAD gene expression. Importantly, knockdown of boundary-associated RNAs results in loss of boundary insulation function. Using enhancer deletions and CRISPRi of promoters, we show that active TAD enhancers, but not promoters, induce boundary-associated RNA transcription, thus defining a novel class of regulatory enhancer RNAs.

DOI10.1101/gr.276643.122
Alternate JournalGenome Res
PubMed ID36650052