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X inactivation

Get in LINE for silencing

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 11, pages 528–529 (2010)Cite this article

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By using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on differentiating mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, Chow et al. determined that RNA from multiple transposable elements colocalizes with the inactive X chromosome. Specific probes showed that transcripts from only a subpopulation of LINEs in the mouse genome colocalize with the Xist-coated X during the X-inactivation time window. Reverse transcription followed by PCR (RT–PCR) confirmed that these transcripts were from LINE-1 (L1) elements located on the X chromosome itself; these elements must be 'young' LINEs, as they still express RNAs — older LINEs become inactive owing to the accumulation of mutations.

The field of X inactivation has greatly benefited from X;autosome translocations, in which the spread of inactive X chromatin into autosomes can be seen to some extent. For a similar test of spreading, Chow et al. used ES cell lines in which the Xist gene has been integrated into mouse chromosomes 11 or 17. Using FISH in these transgenic lines, they also saw young L1 expression intermingling with Xist RNA around the autosome expressing Xist. By examining specific sequences, the authors also suggest that the efficiency of silencing by Xist correlates well with the local concentration of L1s, in both establishment and maintenance of inactivation.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPERS

  1. Chow, J. C. et al. LINE-1 activity in facultative heterochromatin formation during X chromosome inactivation. Cell 141, 956–969 (2010)

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  1. HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology,

    Chris Gunter

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  1. Chris Gunter
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Mammalian Developmental Epigenetics Group at Institut Curie

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Gunter, C. Get in LINE for silencing. Nat Rev Genet 11, 528–529 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg2837

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