Cohesins form chromosomal cis-interactions at the developmentally regulated IFNG locus.

ABSTRACT: Cohesin-mediated sister chromatid cohesion is essential for chromosome segregation and post-replicative DNA repair. In addition, evidence from model organisms and from human genetics suggests that cohesin is involved in the control of gene expression. This non-canonical role has recently been rationalized by the findings that mammalian cohesin complexes are recruited to a subset of DNase I hypersensitive sites and to conserved noncoding sequences by the DNA-binding protein CTCF. CTCF functions at insulators (which control interactions between enhancers and promoters) and at boundary elements (which demarcate regions of distinct chromatin structure), and cohesin contributes to its enhancer-blocking activity. The underlying mechanisms remain unknown, and the full spectrum of cohesin function

SUBMITTER: Hadjur S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2869028 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature