Premium
X chromosome inactivation: A hypothesis
Author(s) -
McBurney Michael W.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.950090211
Subject(s) - biology , genetics , gene , chromosome , x inactivation , chromosome 16 , x chromosome , chromosome 3
X‐chromosome inactivation refers to the coordinate regulation of almost all genes on the mammalian × chromosome. Most models for × chromosome inactivation suppose a role for methylation of × chromosome DNA sequences and/or the heterochromatinization of large «domains» of the × chromosome containing many genes. 1 Some recent work concerning the expression of X‐linked transgenes, and parallels between regulated expression of sex‐linked genes in invertebrates and mammals, suggest that × chromosome inactivation may be a gene‐by‐gene event mediated by the interaction between regulatory sequences common to all X‐linked genes and soluble activators and repressors.