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CTCF is a versatile transcription factor with well-established roles in chromatin organization and insulator function. Recent findings also implicate CTCF in the control of elongation by RNA polymerase (RNAP) II. Here we show that CTCF knockdown abrogates RNAP II pausing at the early elongation checkpoint of c-myc by affecting recruitment of DRB-sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF). CTCF knockdown also causes a termination defect on the U2 snRNA genes (U2), by affecting recruitment of negative elongation factor (NELF). In addition, CTCF is required for recruitment of positive elongation factor b (P-TEFb), which phosphorylates NELF, DSIF, and Ser2 of the RNAP II CTD to activate elongation of transcription of c-myc and recognition of the snRNA gene-specific 3' box RNA processing signal. These findings implicate CTCF in a complex network of protein:protein/protein:DNA interactions and assign a key role to CTCF in controlling RNAP II transcription through the elongation checkpoint of the protein-coding c-myc and the termination site of the non-coding U2, by regulating the recruitment and/or activity of key players in these processes.

Original publication

DOI

10.1080/21541264.2015.1095269

Type

Journal article

Journal

Transcription

Publication Date

2015

Volume

6

Pages

79 - 90

Keywords

CTCF, P-TEFb, RNA Polymerase II pausing, elongation checkpoint, snRNA gene, transcription, CCCTC-Binding Factor, Gene Knockdown Techniques, HeLa Cells, Humans, Nuclear Proteins, Phosphorylation, Positive Transcriptional Elongation Factor B, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc, RNA Polymerase II, RNA, Small Nuclear, Repressor Proteins, Transcription Factors, Transcription, Genetic, Transcriptional Elongation Factors