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X‐chromosome inactivation during spermatogenesis is regulated by an Xist/Tsix ‐independent mechanism in the mouse
Author(s) -
McCarrey John R.,
Watson Cathy,
Atencio Julia,
Ostermeier G. Charles,
Marahrens York,
Jaenisch Rudolf,
Krawetz Stephen A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/gene.10163
Subject(s) - xist , x inactivation , biology , x chromosome , chromatin , spermatogenesis , gene , genetics , meiosis , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology
Summary: Transcriptional inactivation of the single X chromosome occurs in spermatogenic cells during male meiosis in mammals and has been shown to be coincident with expression of the Xist gene in spermatogonia and spermatocytes in mice. However, male mice carrying an ablated Xist gene show normal fertility. Here we examined expression from the Xist locus during spermatogenesis in wild‐type mice and detected sense ( Xist ), but not antisense ( Tsix ) transcripts. In addition, we examined expression and chromatin conformation of X‐linked structural genes in meiotic and postmeiotic spermatogenic cells from wild‐type and Xist ‐ mice and found no differences associated with the absence of a functional Xist gene. These results, along with the formation of a morphologically normal XY body in primary spermatocytes in Xist ‐ mice, indicate that a functional Xist gene is not required for X‐chromosome inactivation during spermatogenesis and that this process is therefore regulated by a different mechanism than that which regulates X‐chromosome inactivation in female embryonic cells. genesis 34:257–266, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.