title: Identification of a Ctcf cofactor, Yy1, for the X chromosome binary switch.
abstract: In mammals, inactivation of one X chromosome in the female equalizes gene dosages between XX females and XY males. Two noncoding loci, Tsix and Xite, together regulate X chromosome fate by controlling homologous chromosome pairing, counting, and mutually exclusive choice. Following choice, the asymmetry of Xite and Tsix expression drives divergent chromosome fates, but how this pattern becomes established is currently unknown. Although no proven trans-acting factors have been identified, a likely candidate is Ctcf, a chromatin insulator with essential function in autosomal imprinting. Here, we search for trans-factors and identify Yy1 as a required cofactor for Ctcf. Paired Ctcf-Yy1 elements are highly clustered within the counting/choice and imprinting domain of Tsix. A deficiency of Yy1 leads to aberrant Tsix and Xist expression, resulting in a deficit of male and female embryos. Yy1 and Ctcf associate through specific protein-protein interactions and together transactivate Tsix. We propose that the Ctcf-Yy1-Tsix complex functions as a key component of the X chromosome binary switch.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Donohoe
authors.forename: Li-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jeannie T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology; D000076246:CCCTC-Binding Factor; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation; D050986:YY1 Transcription Factor / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000076246:CCCTC-Binding Factor; C000619697:CTCF protein, human; C000619698:Ctcf protein, mouse; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C465658:Tsix transcript, mouse; D050986:YY1 Transcription Factor; D004247:DNA