OncoSignal
Live from Open Targets Platform, fetched 2026-11-11 19:06 UTC. Every row links to its source record.

CTCF CCCTC-binding factor

ENSG00000102974 · protein coding · Open Targets profile

Chromatin binding factor that binds to DNA sequence specific sites and regulates the 3D structure of chromatin (PubMed:16949368, PubMed:18347100, PubMed:18654629, PubMed:19322193). Binds together strands of DNA, thus forming chromatin loops, and anchors DNA to cellular structures, such as the nuclear lamina (PubMed:18347100, PubMed:18654629, PubMed:19322193). Defines the boundaries between active and heterochromatic DNA via binding to chromatin insulators, thereby preventing interaction between promoter and nearby enhancers and silencers (PubMed:18347100, PubMed:18654629, PubMed:19322193). Participates in the allele-specific gene expression at the imprinted IGF2/H19 gene locus (PubMed:16107875, PubMed:16815976, PubMed:17827499). On the maternal allele, binding within the H19 imprinting control region (ICR) mediates maternally inherited higher- order chromatin conformation to restrict enhancer access to IGF2 (By similarity). Mediates interchromosomal association between IGF2/H19 and WSB1/NF1 and may direct distant DNA segments to a common transcription factory (By similarity). Regulates asynchronous replication of IGF2/H19 (By similarity). Plays a critical role in gene silencing over considerable distances in the genome (By similarity). Preferentially interacts with unmethylated DNA, preventing spreading of CpG methylation and maintaining methylation-free zones (PubMed:18413740). Inversely, binding to target sites is prevented by CpG methylation (PubMed:18413740). Plays an important role in chromatin remodeling (PubMed:18413740). Can dimerize when it is bound to different DNA sequences, mediating long-range chromatin looping (PubMed:12191639). Causes local loss of histone acetylation and gain of histone methylation in the beta-globin locus, without affecting transcription (PubMed:12191639). When bound to chromatin, it provides an anchor point for nucleosomes positioning (PubMed:12191639). Seems to be essential for homologous X-chromosome pairing (By similarity). May participate with Tsix in establishing a regulatable epigenetic switch for X chromosome inactivation (PubMed:11743158). May play a role in preventing the propagation of stable methylation at the escape genes from X-inactivation (PubMed:11743158). Involved in sister chromatid cohesion (PubMed:12191639). Associates with both centromeres and chromosomal arms during metaphase and required for cohesin localization to CTCF sites (PubMed:18550811). Plays a role in the recruitment of CENPE to the pericentromeric/centromeric regions of the chromosome during mitosis (PubMed:26321640). Acts as a transcriptional repressor binding to promoters of vertebrate MYC gene and BAG1 gene (PubMed:18413740, PubMed:8649389, PubMed:9591631). Also binds to the PLK and PIM1 promoters (PubMed:12191639). Acts as a transcriptional activator of APP (PubMed:9407128). Regulates APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster and controls MHC class II gene expression (PubMed:18347100, PubMed:19322193). Plays an essential role in oocyte and preimplantation embryo development by activating or repressing transcription (By similarity). Seems to act as tumor suppressor (PubMed:12191639). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q61164, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11743158, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16107875, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16815976, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16949368, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17827499, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18347100, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18413740, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18550811, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18654629, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19322193, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26321640, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8649389, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9407128, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9591631, ECO:0000303|PubMed:12191639}.

In 15 of 15 cancers, the evidence for CTCF comes mainly from mutations found in tumours

Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.

Inherited (germline) variantsMutations in tumours (somatic)
00.250.50.751endometrial cancerendometrial cancerendometrial cancer: somatic 0.76acute lymphoblastic leukemiaacute lymphoblastic leukemiaacute lymphoblastic leukemia: somatic 0.58colorectal adenocarcinomacolorectal adenocarcinomacolorectal adenocarcinoma: somatic 0.61endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinomaendometrial endometrioid adenocarcinomaendometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma: somatic 0.61lymphoid neoplasmlymphoid neoplasmlymphoid neoplasm: somatic 0.61bile duct carcinomabile duct carcinomabile duct carcinoma: somatic 0.61ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma wit…ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma with squamous differentiationovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma with squamous differentiation: somatic 0.61carcinoma of liver and intrahepatic bil…carcinoma of liver and intrahepatic biliary tractcarcinoma of liver and intrahepatic biliary tract: somatic 0.61breast adenocarcinomabreast adenocarcinomabreast adenocarcinoma: somatic 0.59desmoplastic/nodular medulloblastomadesmoplastic/nodular medulloblastomadesmoplastic/nodular medulloblastoma: somatic 0.56acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in down…acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in down syndromeacute megakaryoblastic leukemia in down syndrome: somatic 0.55head and neck squamous cell carcinomahead and neck squamous cell carcinomahead and neck squamous cell carcinoma: somatic 0.42acute myeloid leukemiaacute myeloid leukemiaacute myeloid leukemia: somatic 0.46breast carcinomabreast carcinomabreast carcinoma: somatic 0.46hepatocellular carcinomahepatocellular carcinomahepatocellular carcinoma: somatic 0.46

Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.

Tractability

Small molecule
Structure with Ligand
PROTAC
UniProt Ubiquitination, Database Ubiquitination, Half-life Data

gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.09686300158500671 (upper bound 0.1819400042295456). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.

Who runs trials of these drugs

No named investigators on registry trials of CTCF's approved or late-stage drugs in the last three years.

No terminated, withdrawn or suspended trials of CTCF's drugs are registered

All 0 drugs and clinical candidates as a table

Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.

DrugTypeHighest stageIndicationsSource records
No drugs or clinical candidates recorded.