Multifaceted role of CTCF in X-chromosome inactivation

Abstract

Therian female mammals compensate for the dosage of X-linked gene expression by inactivating one of the X-chromosomes. X-inactivation is facilitated by the master regulator Xist long non-coding RNA, which coats the inactive-X and facilitates heterochromatinization through recruiting different chromatin modifiers and changing the X-chromosome 3D conformation. However, many mechanistic aspects behind the X-inactivation process remain poorly understood. Among the many contributing players, CTCF has emerged as one of the key players in orchestrating various aspects related to X-chromosome inactivation by interacting with several other protein and RNA partners. In general, CTCF is a well-known architectural protein, which plays an important role in chromatin organization and transcriptional regulation. Here, we provide significant insight into the role of CTCF in orchestrating X-chromosome inactivation and highlight future perspectives.

Keywords: Xist; CTCF; Chromatin; Chromatin insulation; TADs; X-chromosome inactivation; X-inactivation escapees.