This discovery has important implications for understanding how genes are turned on and off. The researchers also found that when SETDB1 and H3K9me3 are lost, it leads to changes in how our DNA is organized, affecting gene activity and repetitive elements in our genome. This research provides valuable insights into the mechanisms behind gene regulation and opens up new possibilities for developing targeted therapies to manipulate gene activity, which could be particularly relevant for diseases like cancer.

Journal Reference:

Tam, P.L.F., Cheung, M.F., Chan, L.Y. et al. Cell-type differential targeting of SETDB1 prevents aberrant CTCF binding, chromatin looping, and cis-regulatory interactions. Nat Commun 15, 15 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44578-0