CTCF acquired new functional roles gradually across bilaterian evolution, preprint finds
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A bioRxiv preprint posted on 23 October 2026 traces how the genome-organising protein CTCF gained new functional modalities over the course of bilaterian evolution. The study ties CTCF's ability to halt cohesin to gradual changes in its N-terminal region during chordate evolution, and shows that CTCF orthologues from basal chordates and early vertebrates can substitute for human CTCF in regulating loop extrusion. In vertebrates, the protein also progressively came to sit close to and co-oriented with transcription start sites, together with nucleosome depletion and phasing around its binding sites. The work is a preprint and has not yet undergone peer review, so its findings on how CTCF's structural and regulatory roles evolved remain open to assessment.
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- biorxiv.orgCTCF gradually acquires novel function modalities during bilaterian evolution
A bioRxiv preprint shows that CTCF gradually acquired novel functional modalities during bilaterian evolution. The study links the cohesin halting function to gradual changes in the CTCF N-terminal region during chordate evolution, and finds that CTCF orthologues from basal chordates and early vertebrates can substitute for human CTCF in loop extrusion regulation. In vertebrates, CTCF also progressively gained close proximity and co-orientation with transcription start sites, alongside nucleosome depletion and phasing around its binding sites.
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