title: The coupling of X-chromosome inactivation to pluripotency.
abstract: X-chromosome inactivation, or the silencing of one X chromosome that occurs initially in the female somatic four-cell-stage embryo, is reversed during embryonic development first at the time of inner cell mass formation and again during formation of germ cell precursors. Such X-chromosome reactivation in the mouse implies the silencing of the Xist gene and the transcription of its antisense partner, Tsix, from both X chromosomes. In murine embryonic stem cells, both genes are under the transcriptional control of a series of critical pluripotency factors, namely, OCT3/4, NANOG, SOX2, KLF4, C-MYC and REX1. Although the inactive/active status of the two X chromosomes present in female human embryonic stem cells remains controversial, the reactivation of X-chromosome inactivation seems to be a signature for the naive pluripotent state.
authors.affiliation: Mouse Molecular Genetics Unit, Developmental Biology Department, CNRS URA 2578, Institut Pasteur, F-75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jane Lynda
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Deuve
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Avner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D019070:Cell Lineage; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C000715467:KLF4 protein, human; C000715468:Klf4 protein, mouse; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; C077885:XIST non-coding RNA