Topological screen identifies hundreds of Cp190-and CTCF-dependent Drosophila chromatin insulator elements

Drosophila insulators were the first DNA elements found to regulate gene expression by delimiting chromatin contacts. We still do not know how many of them exist and what impact they have on the Drosophila genome folding. Contrary to vertebrates, there is no evidence that fly insulators block cohesin-mediated chromatin loop extrusion. Therefore, their mechanism of action remains uncertain. To bridge these gaps, we mapped chromatin contacts in Drosophila cells lacking the key insulator proteins CTCF and Cp190. With this approach, we found hundreds of insulator elements. Their study indicates that Drosophila insulators play a minor role in the overall genome folding but affect chromatin contacts locally at many loci. Our observations argue that Cp190 promotes cobinding of other insulator proteins and that the model, where Drosophila insulators block chromatin contacts by forming loops, needs revision. Our insulator catalog provides an important resource to study mechanisms of genome folding.

Automated summary

Drosophila insulators are DNA elements that regulate gene expression by limiting chromatin contacts. By mapping chromatin contacts in Drosophila cells without key insulator proteins CTCF and Cp190, we discovered hundreds of insulator elements. Our findings suggest that Drosophila insulators play a minor role in overall genome folding but have a local impact on chromatin contacts. Our insulator catalog is an important resource for studying genome folding mechanisms.