Ohlsson R, Renkawitz R, Lobanenkov V
Dept of Genetics and Development, Evolution Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, S-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.
Trends Genet. 2001 Sep;17(9):520-7. doi: 10.1016/s0168-9525(01)02366-6.
CTCF is an evolutionarily conserved zinc finger (ZF) phosphoprotein that binds through combinatorial use of its 11 ZFs to approximately 50 bp target sites that have remarkable sequence variation. Formation of different CTCF-DNA complexes, some of which are methylation-sensitive, results in distinct functions, including gene activation, repression, silencing and chromatin insulation. Disrupting the spectrum of target specificities by ZF mutations or by abnormal selective methylation of targets is associated with cancer. CTCF emerges, therefore, as a central player in networks linking expression domains with epigenetics and cell growth regulation.
CTCF是一种进化上保守的锌指（ZF）磷蛋白，它通过组合使用其11个锌指与大约50个碱基对的靶位点结合，这些靶位点具有显著的序列变异。不同CTCF-DNA复合物的形成，其中一些对甲基化敏感，导致了不同的功能，包括基因激活、抑制、沉默和染色质绝缘。通过锌指突变或靶标的异常选择性甲基化破坏靶标特异性谱与癌症相关。因此，CTCF成为将表达域与表观遗传学和细胞生长调节联系起来的网络中的核心参与者。
