title: X-chromosome inactivation: the molecular basis of silencing.
abstract: X-chromosome inactivation occurs randomly for one of the two X chromosomes in female cells during development. Inactivation occurs when RNA transcribed from the Xist gene on the X chromosome from which it is expressed spreads to coat the whole X chromosome. In the first issue of Epigenetics and Chromatin, Nesterova and colleagues investigate the role of the RNA interference pathway enzyme Dicer in DNA methylation of the Xist promoter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. bpanning@biochem.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panning
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology*; D050172:Genes, X-Linked; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D034622:RNA Interference; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004722:Endoribonucleases; C509781:Dicer1 protein, mouse; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases