title: ATRX marks the inactive X chromosome (Xi) in somatic cells and during imprinted X chromosome inactivation in trophoblast stem cells.
abstract: Mammalian X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is an essential mechanism to compensate for dosage imbalances between male and female embryos. Although the molecular pathways are not fully understood, heterochromatinization of the Xi requires the coordinate recruitment of multiple epigenetic marks. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis combined with immunocytochemistry, we demonstrate that the chromatin remodeling protein ATRX decorates the chromatids of a single, late replicating X chromosome in female somatic cells and co-localizes with the bona fide marker of the Xi, macroH2A1.2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation using somatic, embryonic stem (ES) cells and trophoblast stem (TS) cells as model for random and imprinted XCI, respectively, revealed that, in somatic and TS cells, ATRX exhibits a specific association with sequences located within the previously described H3K9me2-hotspot, a region 5' to the X inactive-specific transcript (Xist) locus. While no ATRX-Xi interaction was detectable in undifferentiated ES cells, an enrichment of ATRX was observed after 8 days of differentiation, indicating that ATRX associates with the Xi following the onset of random XCI, consistent with a potential role in maintenance of XCI. These results have important implications regarding a previously described escape from imprinted XCI in ATRX-deficient mice as well as cases of skewed XCI in patients with ATRX syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA, 19348, USA.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Rabindranath
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De La Fuente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013577:Syndrome; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation; D000075924:X-linked Nuclear Protein
chemical_list: D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; C077885:XIST non-coding RNA; D004265:DNA Helicases; C092332:ATRX protein, human; C490462:Atrx protein, mouse; D000075924:X-linked Nuclear Protein