Molecular basis of CTCF binding polarity in genome folding

Current models propose that boundaries of mammalian topologically associating domains (TADs) arise from the ability of the CTCF protein to stop extrusion of chromatin loops by cohesin. While the orientation of CTCF motifs determines which pairs of CTCF sites preferentially stabilize loops, the molecular basis of this polarity remains mysterious. Here we report that CTCF positions cohesin but does not control its overall binding dynamics on chromatin by single molecule live imaging. Using an inducible complementation system, we found that CTCF mutants lacking the N-terminus cannot insulate TADs properly. Cohesin remained at CTCF sites in this mutant, albeit with reduced enrichment. Given that the orientation of the CTCF motif presents the CTCF N-terminus towards cohesin as it translocates from the interior of TADs, these observations explain how the orientation of CTCF binding sites determines the genomic distribution of chromatin loops. ChIP-seq, Hi-C and 5C in mouse ES cells harboring an auxin-inducible degron on endogenous CTCF alleles and expressing dox-inducible mutant CTCF transgenes. WT parental cells are E14tg2a (129 X,Y background).