title: Mechanisms of X-chromosome inactivation.
abstract: Mammalian X-chromosome inactivation is an impressive example of epigenetic gene regulation, whereby the majority of genes on the approximately 160 Mb X chromosome are silenced in a strictly cis-limited fashion. In this review we will discuss the important players involved in the silencing process. The process is initiated by transcription and cis-localization of the non-coding XIST RNA, which then recruits many of the epigenetic features generally associated with heterochromatin, including histone modifications, histone variants and DNA methylation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Nancy P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Thorogood
authors.forename: Carolyn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation
chemical_list: D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D014157:Transcription Factors