Fig. 6

Proposed model for CTCF-dependent gene regulation in erythropoiesis. Our study identified two subsets of genes with reduced chromatin accessibility after CTCF depletion, suggesting a simplified model with two different patterns of CTCF-dependent gene regulation in the context of erythroid cells. (i) CTCF-dependent gene activation is associated with decreased chromatin accessibility and chromatin looping. Upon erythroid maturation, CTCF is required to activate the expression of a subset of erythroid lineage genes, such as FXN and GOT2, which are involved in cellular amino acid and heme metabolism. (ii) CTCF-dependent gene repression with dynamic GATA1 occupancy. Upon erythroid maturation, CTCF is required to repress the expression of a subset of nonerythroid lineage genes, such as GATA2 and KIT. These genes are also enriched with a reduction in GATA1 occupancy, suggesting that CTCF is required for a subset of GATA1-mediated gene repression