Long noncoding RNA HOTTIP cooperates with CCCTC-binding factor to coordinate HOXA gene expression

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018 Jun 12;500(4):852-859. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.04.173. Epub 2018 May 1.

Abstract

The spatiotemporal control of HOX gene expression is dependent on positional identity and often correlated to their genomic location within each loci. Maintenance of HOX expression patterns is under complex transcriptional and epigenetic regulation, which is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that HOTTIP, a lincRNA transcribed from the 5' edge of the HOXA locus, physically associates with the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) that serves as an insulator by organizing HOXA cluster into disjoint domains, to cooperatively maintain the chromatin modifications of HOXA genes and thus coordinate the transcriptional activation of distal HOXA genes in human foreskin fibroblasts. Our results reveal the functional connection of HOTTIP and CTCF, and shed light on lincRNAs in gene activation and CTCF mediated chromatin organization.

Keywords: Chromatin boundary; HOX genes; Positional identity; Transcriptional regulation; ncRNAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • CCCTC-Binding Factor / genetics*
  • CCCTC-Binding Factor / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatin / chemistry
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Foreskin / cytology
  • Foreskin / metabolism
  • Histones / genetics*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • CCCTC-Binding Factor
  • CTCF protein, human
  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • Transcription Factors
  • homeobox A1 protein
  • long noncoding RNA HOTTIP, human