Sex chromosome inactivation: the importance of pairing.
In mammals, the process of making sperm is marked by inactivation of sex chromosomes. Why and how does this happen? The answer apparently lies in whether a chromosome finds a pairing partner. Similar mechanisms in mold and worms reveal a surprising and recurrent theme throughout evolution.
Lee
Jeannie T
JT
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. lee@amber.mgh.harvard.edu
D000818:Animals; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D023902:Chromosome Pairing / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*
D019313:BRCA1 Protein; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; C468783:H2AX protein, human; D006657:Histones; C576597:ATR protein, human; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases