Progress toward understanding chromosome silencing by Xist RNA

Genes Dev. 2020 Jun 1;34(11-12):733-744. doi: 10.1101/gad.337196.120.

Abstract

The X inactive-specific transcript (Xist) gene is the master regulator of X chromosome inactivation in mammals. Xist produces a long noncoding (lnc)RNA that accumulates over the entire length of the chromosome from which it is transcribed, recruiting factors to modify underlying chromatin and silence X-linked genes in cis Recent years have seen significant progress in identifying important functional elements in Xist RNA, their associated RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and the downstream pathways for chromatin modification and gene silencing. In this review, we summarize progress in understanding both how these pathways function in Xist-mediated silencing and the complex interplay between them.

Keywords: LBR; NCoR–HDAC3; Polycomb; RBM15; SPEN; X chromosome inactivation; Xist; chromatin; m6A RNA methylation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Silencing / physiology
  • Lamin B Receptor
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism
  • X Chromosome Inactivation / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Proteins
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Rbm15 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Spen protein, mouse
  • XIST non-coding RNA
  • Methyltransferases
  • Mettl14 protein, mouse
  • Mettl3 protein, mouse