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Mechanisms of X-chromosome inactivation

2006; Frontiers in Bioscience; Volume: 11; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2741/1842

1094-3935

C. Chang Samuel,

Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Mammalian X-chromosome inactivation is an impressive example of epigenetic gene regulation, whereby the majority of genes on the ~ 160 Mb X chromosome are silenced in a strictly cis-limited fashion. In this review we will discuss the important players involved in the silencing process. The process is initiated by transcription and cis-localization of the non-coding XIST RNA, which then recruits many of the epigenetic features generally associated with heterochromatin, including histone modifications, histone variants and DNA methylation.