The Role of Xist in X-Chromosome Dosage Compensation

Trends Cell Biol. 2018 Dec;28(12):999-1013. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.05.005. Epub 2018 Jun 14.

Abstract

In each somatic cell of a female mammal one X chromosome is transcriptionally silenced via X-chromosome inactivation (XCI), initiating early in development. Although XCI events are conserved in mouse and human postimplantation development, regulation of X-chromosome dosage in preimplantation development occurs differently. In preimplantation development, mouse embryos undergo imprinted form of XCI, yet humans lack imprinted XCI and instead regulate gene expression of both X chromosomes by dampening transcription. The long non-coding RNA Xist/XIST is expressed in mouse and human preimplantation and postimplantation development to orchestrate XCI, but its role in dampening is unclear. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the role of Xist in X chromosome dosage compensation in mouse and human.

Keywords: X inactivation; Xist; dosage compensation; embryonic stem cells; lncRNAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • X Chromosome / genetics*
  • X Chromosome Inactivation*

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • XIST non-coding RNA