Characterization of a murine gene expressed from the inactive X chromosome.
In mammals, equal dosage of gene products encoded by the X chromosome in male and female cells is achieved by X inactivation. Although X-chromosome inactivation represents the most extensive example known of long range cis gene regulation, the mechanism by which thousands of genes on only one of a pair of identical chromosomes are turned off is poorly understood. We have recently identified a human gene (XIST) exclusively expressed from the inactive X chromosome. Here we report the isolation and characterization of its murine homologue (Xist) which localizes to the mouse X inactivation centre region and is the first murine gene found to be expressed from the inactive X chromosome. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicates that Xist may be associated with a protein product. The similar map positions and expression patterns for Xist in mouse and man suggest that this gene may have a role in X inactivation.
Borsani
G
G
Department of Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.
Tonlorenzi
R
R
Simmler
M C
MC
Dandolo
L
L
Arnaud
D
D
Capra
V
V
Grompe
M
M
Pizzuti
A
A
Muzny
D
D
Lawrence
C
C
Willard
H F
HF
Avner
P
P
Ballabio
A
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003360:Cosmids; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014960:X Chromosome
D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D004247:DNA