title: Characterization of DXZ4 conservation in primates implies important functional roles for CTCF binding, array expression and tandem repeat organization on the X chromosome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comparative sequence analysis is a powerful means with which to identify functionally relevant non-coding DNA elements through conserved nucleotide sequence. The macrosatellite DXZ4 is a polymorphic, uninterrupted, tandem array of 3-kb repeat units located exclusively on the human X chromosome. While not obviously protein coding, its chromatin organization suggests differing roles for the array on the active and inactive X chromosomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In order to identify important elements within DXZ4, we explored preservation of DNA sequence and chromatin conformation of the macrosatellite in primates. We found that DXZ4 DNA sequence conservation beyond New World monkeys is limited to the promoter and CTCF binding site, although DXZ4 remains a GC-rich tandem array. Investigation of chromatin organization in macaques revealed that DXZ4 in males and on the active X chromosome is packaged into heterochromatin, whereas on the inactive X, DXZ4 was euchromatic and bound by CTCF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collectively, these data suggest an important conserved role for DXZ4 on the X chromosome involving expression, CTCF binding and tandem organization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, 3076 King Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295, USA.
authors.forename: Christine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chadwick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D000076246:CCCTC-Binding Factor; D002520:Cercopithecidae / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D022041:Euchromatin / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007900:Lemur / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D051078:Platyrrhini / Q000235:genetics; D011323:Primates / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics*; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000076246:CCCTC-Binding Factor; C000619697:CTCF protein, human; D002843:Chromatin; D022041:Euchromatin; D006570:Heterochromatin; D012097:Repressor Proteins