Open AccessThe zinc-finger protein CLAMP promotes gypsy chromatin insulator function in Drosophila
Author(s) -
Indira Bag,
Ryan K. Dale,
Cameron D. Palmer,
Elissa P. Lei
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cell science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.384
H-Index - 278
eISSN - 1477-9137
pISSN - 0021-9533
DOI - 10.1242/jcs.226092
Subject(s) - chromatin , biology , enhancer , microbiology and biotechnology , heterochromatin , transcription factor , zinc finger , dna binding protein , ctcf , euchromatin , genetics , dna , gene
Chromatin insulators are DNA-protein complexes that establish independent higher order DNA domains to influence transcription. Insulators are functionally defined by two different properties: they can block communication between an enhancer and a promoter and also act as a barrier between heterochromatin and euchromatin. In Drosophila, the gypsy insulator complex contains three core components; Su(Hw), CP190 and Mod(mdg4)67.2. Here, we identify a novel role for Chromatin-linked adaptor for MSL proteins (CLAMP) in promoting gypsy chromatin insulator function. When clamp is depleted, gypsy-dependent enhancer blocking and barrier activities are strongly reduced. CLAMP associates physically with the core gypsy insulator complex, and ChIP-seq analysis reveals extensive overlap particularly with promoter-bound CP190 on chromatin. Depletion of CLAMP disrupts CP190 binding at a minority of shared sites, but depletion of CP190 results in extensive loss of CLAMP chromatin association. Finally, reduction of CLAMP disrupts CP190 localization within the nucleus. Our results support a positive functional relationship between CLAMP and CP190 to promote gypsy chromatin insulator activity.