A shift from reversible to irreversible X inactivation is triggered during ES cell differentiation

Mol Cell. 2000 Apr;5(4):695-705. doi: 10.1016/s1097-2765(00)80248-8.

Abstract

Xist is required for X inactivation. To study the initiation of X inactivation, we have generated a full-length mouse Xist cDNA transgene and an inducible expression system facilitating controlled Xist expression in ES cells and differentiated cultures. In ES cells, transgenic Xist RNA was stable and caused long-range transcriptional repression in cis. Repression was reversible and dependent on continued Xist expression in ES cells and early ES cell differentiation. By 72 hr of differentiation, inactivation became irreversible and independent of Xist. Upon differentiation, autosomal transgenes did not effect counting, but transgenic Xist RNA induced late replication and histone H4 hypoacetylation. Xist had to be activated within 48 hr of differentiation to effect silencing, suggesting that reversible repression by Xist is a required initiation step that might occur during normal X inactivation in female cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Dosage Compensation, Genetic*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology*
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Mice
  • Models, Genetic
  • RNA Stability
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Untranslated*
  • Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Untranslated
  • Transcription Factors
  • XIST non-coding RNA