The methyltransferase SETDB1 regulates a large neuron-specific topological chromatin domain

Schahram Akbarian and colleagues report that mutation of the gene encoding the SETDB1 (KMT1E) histone methyltransferase in mouse neurons leads to dissolution of chromosome conformations and a topologically associated domain at the clustered protocadherin locus. They show that SETDB1 prevents excess CTCF binding and is important for maintaining developmentally important higher-order chromatin organization.