CTCF-dependent chromatin insulator as a built-in attenuator of angiogenesis

Abstract

VEGF is a pivotal pro-antigenic growth factor and its dosage decisively impacts vascularization. We recently identified a CTCF-dependent chromatin insulator that critically restrains the transcriptional induction of VEGF and angiogenesis. We postulate that CTCF may exert enhancer blocking by mediating chromatin looping and/or RNA polymerase pausing at the VEGF locus. © 2012 Landes Bioscience.