%0 Journal Article
%T TFIIIC Binding to Alu Elements Controls Gene Expression via Chromatin Looping and Histone Acetylation.
%A Ferrari R
%A de Llobet Cucalon LI
%A Di Vona C
%A Le Dilly F
%A Vidal E
%A Lioutas A
%A Oliete JQ
%A Jochem L
%A Cutts E
%A Dieci G
%A Vannini A
%A Teichmann M
%A de la Luna S
%A Beato M
%J Mol Cell
%V 77
%N 3
%D 02 2020 6
%M 31759822
%F 19.328
%R 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.10.020
%X How repetitive elements, epigenetic modifications, and architectural proteins interact ensuring proper genome expression remains poorly understood. Here, we report regulatory mechanisms unveiling a central role of Alu elements (AEs) and RNA polymerase III transcription factor C (TFIIIC) in structurally and functionally modulating the genome via chromatin looping and histone acetylation. Upon serum deprivation, a subset of AEs pre-marked by the activity-dependent neuroprotector homeobox Protein (ADNP) and located near cell-cycle genes recruits TFIIIC, which alters their chromatin accessibility by direct acetylation of histone H3 lysine-18 (H3K18). This facilitates the contacts of AEs with distant CTCF sites near promoter of other cell-cycle genes, which also become hyperacetylated at H3K18. These changes ensure basal transcription of cell-cycle genes and are critical for their re-activation upon serum re-exposure. Our study reveals how direct manipulation of the epigenetic state of AEs by a general transcription factor regulates 3D genome folding and expression.