The evolutionary pathway of x chromosome inactivation in mammals

A I Shevchenko; I S Zakharova; S M Zakian

The evolutionary pathway of x chromosome inactivation in mammals

Acta Naturae. 2013 Apr;5(2):40-53.

Authors

A I Shevchenko¹, I S Zakharova, S M Zakian

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Lavrentyeva, 10, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090 ; State Research Institute of Circulation Pathology, Rechkunovskaya Str., 15, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630055 ; Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospekt Lavrentyeva, 8, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090.

PMID: 23819035
PMCID: PMC3695352

Abstract

X chromosome inactivation is a complex process that occurs in marsupial and eutherian mammals. The process is thought to have arisen during the differentiation of mammalian sex chromosomes to achieve an equal dosage of X chromosome genes in males and females. The differences in the X chromosome inactivation processes in marsupial and eutherian mammals are considered, and the hypotheses on its origin and evolution are discussed in this review.

Keywords: X chromosome inactivation; Xist.; mammals.