title: Differences between homologous alleles of olfactory receptor genes require the Polycomb Group protein Eed.
abstract: A number of mammalian genes are expressed from only one of the two homologous chromosomes, selected at random in each cell. These include genes subject to X-inactivation, olfactory receptor (OR) genes, and several classes of immune system genes. The means by which monoallelic expression is established are only beginning to be understood. Using a cytological assay, we show that the two homologous alleles of autosomal random monoallelic loci differ from each other in embryonic stem (ES) cells, before establishment of monoallelic expression. The Polycomb Group gene Eed is required to establish this distinctive behavior. In addition, we found that when Eed mutant ES cells are differentiated, they fail to establish asynchronous replication timing at OR loci. These results suggest a common mechanism for random monoallelic expression on autosomes and the X chromosome, and implicate Eed in establishing differences between homologous OR loci before and after differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Kate
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mlynarczyk-Evans
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Royce-Tolland
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plocik
authors.forename: Sundeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalantry
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magnuson
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panning
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial; D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005812:Genes, Switch; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C107275:Eed protein, mouse; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2