Cohesin organizes 3D DNA contacts surrounding active enhancers in <i>C. elegans</i>.

ABSTRACT: In mammals, cohesin and CTCF organize the 3D genome into topologically associating domains (TADs) to regulate communication between cis-regulatory elements. Many organisms, including S. cerevisiae, C. elegans, and A. thaliana contain cohesin but lack CTCF. Here, we used C. elegans to investigate the function of cohesin in 3D genome organization in the absence of CTCF. Using Hi-C data, we observe cohesin-dependent features called "fountains," which have also been reported in zebrafish and mice. These are population average reflections of DNA loops originating from distinct genomic regions and are ∼20-40 kb in C. elegans Hi-C analysis upon cohesin and WAPL-1 depletion supports the idea that cohesin is preferentially loaded at sites bound by the C.

SUBMITTER: Kim J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12047539 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature