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In mammals, dosage compensation of X linked genes in female cells is achievedby inactivation of one of their two X chromosomes which is randomly chosen. Theearliest steps in X-inactivation (XCI), namely the mechanism whereby cellscount their X chromosomes and choose between two equivalent X, remainmysterious. Starting from the recent discovery of X chromosome colocalizationat the onset of X-inactivation, we propose a Statistical Mechanics model ofXCI, which is investigated by computer simulations and checked againstexperimental data. Our model describes how a `blocking factor' complex isself-assembled and why only one is formed out of many diffusible molecules,resulting in a spontaneous symmetry breaking (SB) in the binding to twoidentical chromosomes. These results are used to derive a scenario ofbiological implications describing all current experimental evidences, e.g.,the importance of colocalization.

A Symmetry Breaking Model for X Chromosome Inactivation