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X inactivation in mammalian testis is correlated with inactive X–specific transcription

Nature Genetics volume 2, pages 192–195 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

X chromosome inactivation occurs twice during the mammalian life cycle. In females one of the two X chromosomes of somatic nuclei is inactive, while in males the solitary X chromosome is inactivated during germ cell development. Despite the different properties of the inactivated chromosomes of females and males, the molecular initiation of inactivation may be the same. X inactive–specific transcripts, XIST, are produced from somatic inactivated X chromosomes. We demonstrate here the existence of XIST transcripts in testes of man and mouse. Inactivation of X chromosomes in males, as in females, may thus be mediated through XIST. Conceivably, the silencing of X–linked genes is the price paid for the evolution of successful mechanisms of chromosomal sex determination.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel

    Carmelit Richler & Jacob Wahrman

  2. Department of Biological Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel

    Hermona Soreq

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  1. Carmelit Richler
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  2. Hermona Soreq
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  3. Jacob Wahrman
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Richler, C., Soreq, H. & Wahrman, J. X inactivation in mammalian testis is correlated with inactive X–specific transcription. Nat Genet 2, 192–195 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng1192-192

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ng1192-192

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