Expression of Xist in mouse germ cells correlates with X-chromosome inactivation.
Mammals compensate for different doses of X-chromosome-linked genes in male (XY) and female (XX) somatic cells by terminally inactivating all but one X chromosome in each cell. A transiently inactive X chromosome is also found in germ cells, specifically in premeiotic oogenic cells and in meiotic and postmeiotic spermatogenic cells. Here we show that the Xist gene, which is a expressed predominantly from the inactive X-chromosome in female somatic cells, is also expressed in germ cells of both sexes, but only at those stages when an inactive X chromosome is present. This suggests support for the putative role of Xist as a regulator of X-chromosome inactivation and suggest a common mechanism for the initiation and/or maintenance of X-chromosome inactivation in all cell types.
Department of Genetics, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, TX 78228.
J R
JR
McCarrey
D D
DD
Dilworth
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010063:Ovum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014960:X Chromosome
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D014157:Transcription Factors; C077885:XIST non-coding RNA