DNA replication-dependent binding of CTCF plays a critical role in adenovirus genome functions.

The expression of adenovirus late genes is shown to require viral DNA replication, but its mechanism remains elusive. Here we found that knockdown of CTCF suppresses viral DNA replication as well as late, but not early, gene expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that CTCF binds to viral chromatin depending on viral DNA replication. These findings depict CTCF as a critical regulator for adenovirus genome functions in late phases of infection.