Cell differentiation relies on tissue-specific transcription factors (TFs) that cooperate to establish unique transcriptomes and phenotypes. However, the role of ubiquitous TFs in these processes remains poorly defined. Recently, we have shown that the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is required for adipocyte differentiation through epigenomic remodelling of adipose tissue-specific enhancers and transcriptional activation of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), the main driver of the adipogenic program (PPARG), and its target genes. Here, we discuss how these findings, together with the recent literature, illuminate a functional role for ubiquitous TFs in lineage-determining transcriptional networks.
Keywords: 5hmC, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine; 5mC, 5-methylcytosine; CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF); CEBP, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein; CTCF, CCCTC-binding factor; DNA hydroxymethylation; H3K27ac, acetylation of histone H3 lysine 27; H3K4me1, monomethylation of histone H3 lysine 4; KLF, Krüppel-like factors; PPARG, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; TET methylcytosine dioxygenase; TET, Ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase; TF, Transcription factor; cell differentiation; cistrome; enhancer; epigenome; transcriptome; ubiquitous transcription factor.