Abstract
Mutations in the proteins that bind insulator DNA elements that define the boundaries of chromatin domains can give morphogenetic readouts in Drosophila, as recently reported in BMC Biology by Bonchuk et al. in the Georgiev laboratory. But disentangling the effects on the phenotype may not be simple.See research article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/13/63
Highlights
Insulator/boundary elements Insulator DNA elements, referred to with the more generic term boundaries, are important architectural components of the genome and nuclear organization that are conserved through evolution
Most of what we know comes from studies in Drosophila where nine of them have been identified. They include in the order of their identification Su(Hw), BEAF-32, the GAGA factor, Zw5, dCTCF, the Elba1/Elba2/Elba3 protein complex, Pita and ZIPIC, and the Ibf1 and Ibf2 proteins
The situation is apparently much simpler in vertebrates where only CTCF has been identified as an insulator DNA binding protein
Summary
Insulator/boundary elements Insulator DNA elements, referred to with the more generic term boundaries, are important architectural components of the genome and nuclear organization that are conserved through evolution. DCTCF protein and biology Vertebrate and Drosophila CTCF are well conserved in their 12 C2H2 zinc finger domains, and bind similar sequences [8]. Redundancy may explain why a CTCF protein lacking the CP190 interaction domain is almost as effective as the wild-type form of CTCF in rescuing the dCTCF mutant phenotype.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
