A 94 kb genomic sequence 3' to the murine Xist gene reveals an AT rich region containing a new testis specific gene Tsx.
X chromosome inactivation in both mouse and human requires the presence of a cis acting locus, the X inactivation centre. This locus is thought to be involved in the initiation and spreading of the inactivation signal in early development. In order to increase our understanding of the mouse X inactivation centre, a 94 kb region immediately distal to the Xist gene has been sequenced and analysed for the presence of transcription units and/or potential cis acting regulatory elements. We have identified a novel gene, Tsx, lying 40 kb 3' from Xist. Tsx is expressed specifically in the testis and shows no convincing homology to proteins currently in the databases. A rat homologue, also X linked, has been isolated. The mouse and rat Tsx sequences are highly divergent, suggesting that part of the X inactivation centre, including both Xist and Tsx are subject to relatively weak evolutionary constraints.
Simmler
M C
MC
CNRS URA1968, Génétique Moléculaire Murine, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Cunningham
D B
DB
Clerc
P
P
Vermat
T
T
Caudron
B
B
Cruaud
C
C
Pawlak
A
A
Szpirer
C
C
Weissenbach
J
J
Claverie
J M
JM
Avner
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D051381:Rats; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014960:X Chromosome
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C104355:Tsx protein, mouse; C484482:Tsx protein, rat; C077885:XIST non-coding RNA