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- Title
X chromosomes alternate between two states prior to random X-inactivation.
- Authors
Mlynarczyk-Evans, Susanna; Royce-Tolland, Morgan; Alexander, Mary Kate; Andersen, Angela A; Kalantry, Sundeep; Gribnau, Joost; Panning, Barbara
- Abstract
Early in the development of female mammals, one of the two X chromosomes is silenced in half of cells and the other X chromosome is silenced in the remaining half. The basis of this apparent randomness is not understood. We show that before X-inactivation, the two X chromosomes appear to exist in distinct states that correspond to their fates as the active and inactive X chromosomes. Xist and Tsix, noncoding RNAs that control X chromosome fates upon X-inactivation, also determine the states of the X chromosomes prior to X-inactivation. In wild-type ES cells, X chromosomes switch between states; among the progeny of a single cell, a given X chromosome exhibits each state with equal frequency. We propose a model in which the concerted switching of homologous X chromosomes between mutually exclusive future active and future inactive states provides the basis for the apparently random silencing of one X chromosome in female cells.
- Publication
PLoS biology, 2006, Vol 4, Issue 6, pe159
- ISSN
1545-7885
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pbio.0040159