Bromodomain and extraterminal motif (BET) proteins have been widely investigated for their roles in gene regulation and their potential as therapeutic targets in cancer. Pharmacologic BET inhibitors target the conserved bromodomain-acetyllysine interaction and do not distinguish between BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4. Thus, comparatively little is known regarding the distinct roles played by individual family members, as well as the underlying mechanisms that drive the transcriptional effects of BET inhibitors. Here we review studies regarding the contributions of BET proteins to genome structure and function, including recent work identifying a role for BRD2 as a component of functional and physical chromatin domain boundaries. We also discuss directions of future studies aimed at providing insights into broader architectural functions of BET proteins and their roles in chromatin domain boundary formation.
© 2017 Hsu and Blobel; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.