Dynamics of CTCF binding and chromatin organization around active CTCF motifs throughout the cell cycle. (A) In interphase, CTCF is bound to its motif and flanking nucleosomes are strongly positioned relative to the motif, in contrast to nucleosomes further away from the motif, as indicated by arrows. Flanking nucleosomes are characterized by histone variants and modifications. (B) In prometaphase, CTCF binding is temporarily lost and nucleosomes rearrange to fill in the nucleosome depleted region at the CTCF motif. This increases the linker lengths between adjacent nucleosomes. Epigenetic marks, however, are maintained, possibly functioning as bookmarks that enable inheritance of active CTCF motifs throughout the cell cycle. Arrows underneath nucleosomes indicate that the position of these nucleosomes can vary between cells.
