Insulators as mediators of intra- and inter-chromosomal interactions: A common evolutionary theme

Abstract

Insulator elements mediate intra- and inter-chromosomal interactions. The insulator protein CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is important for insulator function in several animals but a report in BMC Molecular Biology shows that Caenorhabditis elegans, yeast and plants lack CTCF. Alternative proteins may have a similar function in these organisms. © 2009 BioMed Central Ltd.