Nature Genetics36, 642 - 646 (2004)
Published online: 23 May 2004; | doi:10.1038/ng1368
The mouse X chromosome is enriched for sex-biased genes not subject to selection by meiotic sex chromosome inactivation
Pavel P Khil1, 3, Natalya A Smirnova1, 3, Peter J Romanienko1, 2
& R Daniel Camerini-Otero1
1
Genetics and Biochemistry Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, 5 Memorial Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
2
Present address: Developmental Biology Program, Mouse Genetics Core, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, New York 10021, USA.
3
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence should be addressed to R Daniel Camerini-Otero camerini@ncifcrf.gov
Sex chromosomes are subject to sex-specific selective evolutionary forces1,
2. One model predicts that genes with sex-biased expression should be enriched on the X chromosome2,
3,
4,
5. In agreement with Rice's hypothesis3, spermatogonial genes are over-represented on the X chromosome of mice6 and sex- and reproduction-related genes are over-represented on the human X chromosome7,
8. Male-biased genes are under-represented on the X chromosome in worms and flies9,
10,
11, however. Here we show that mouse spermatogenesis genes are relatively under-represented on the X chromosome and female-biased genes are enriched on it. We used Spo11-/- mice blocked in spermatogenesis early in meiosis12 to evaluate the temporal pattern of gene expression in sperm development. Genes expressed before the Spo11 block are enriched on the X chromosome, whereas those expressed later in spermatogenesis are depleted. Inactivation of the X chromosome in male meiosis may be a universal driving force for X-chromosome demasculinization.
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