X inactivation in mammalian testis is correlated with inactive X-specific transcription.
X chromosome inactivation occurs twice during the mammalian life cycle. In females one of the two X chromosomes of somatic nuclei is inactive, while in males the solitary X chromosome is inactivated during germ cell development. Despite the different properties of the inactivated chromosomes of females and males, the molecular initiation of inactivation may be the same. X inactive-specific transcripts, XIST, are produced from somatic inactivated X chromosomes. We demonstrate here the existence of XIST transcripts in testes of man and mouse. Inactivation of X chromosomes in males, as in females, may thus be mediated through XIST. Conceivably, the silencing of X-linked genes is the price paid for the evolution of successful mechanisms of chromosomal sex determination.
Department of Genetics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
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Richler
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Soreq
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Wahrman
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014960:X Chromosome
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger