Site-specific silencing of regulatory elements as a mechanism of X inactivation.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
The inactive X chromosome's (Xi) physical territory is microscopically devoid of transcriptional hallmarks and enriched in silencing-associated modifications. How these microscopic signatures relate to specific Xi sequences is unknown. Therefore, we profiled Xi gene expression and chromatin states at high resolution via allele-specific sequencing in mouse trophoblast stem cells. Most notably, X-inactivated transcription start sites harbored distinct epigenetic signatures relative to surrounding Xi DNA. These sites displayed H3-lysine27-trimethylation enrichment and DNaseI hypersensitivity, similar to autosomal Polycomb targets, yet excluded Pol II and other transcriptional hallmarks, similar to nontranscribed genes. CTCF bound X-inactivated and escaping genes, irrespective of measured chromatin boundaries. Escape from X inactivation occurred within, and X inactivation was maintained exterior to, the area encompassed by Xist in cells subject to imprinted and random X inactivation. The data support a model whereby inactivation of specific regulatory elements, rather than a simple chromosome-wide separation from transcription machinery, governs gene silencing over the Xi.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Calabrese, JM; Sun, W; Song, L; Mugford, JW; Williams, L; Yee, D; Starmer, J; Mieczkowski, P; Crawford, GE; Magnuson, T
Published Date
- November 21, 2012
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 151 / 5
Start / End Page
- 951 - 963
PubMed ID
- 23178118
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC3511858
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1097-4172
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.cell.2012.10.037
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States