X-chromosome inactivation: closing in on proteins that bind Xist RNA |
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Authors: | Brockdorff Neil |
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Institution: | X Inactivation Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, ICSM, Hammersmith Hospital, DuCane Road, W12 0NN, London, UK. neil.brockdorff@hgmp.mrc.ac.uk |
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Abstract: | X inactivation is the developmentally regulated silencing of a single X chromosome in XX female mammals. In recent years, the Xist gene has been revealed as the master regulatory switch controlling this process. Parental imprinting and/or counting mechanisms ensure that Xist is expressed only on the inactive X chromosome. Chromosome silencing then results from the accumulation of the Xist RNA silencing signal, in cis, over the entire length of the X chromosome. A key issue has been to identify the factors that interact with Xist RNA to initiate heritable gene silencing. This review discusses recent progress that has put this goal in sight. |
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