X-chromosome inactivation and cell memory. |
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Authors: | A D Riggs G P Pfeifer |
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Affiliation: | Department of Biology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. |
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Abstract: | Mammalian X-chromosome inactivation is an excellent example of the faithful maintenance of a determined chromosomal state. As such, it may provide insight into the mechanisms for cell memory, defined as the faithful maintenance of a determined state in clonally derived progeny cells. We review here the aspects of X-chromosome inactivation that are relevant to cell memory and discuss the various molecular mechanisms that have been proposed to explain its occurrence, with emphasis on DNA methylation and a recently proposed mechanism that depends on the timing of replication. |
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