Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome Inactivation
The silencing of all but one X chromosome in mammalian cells is a remarkable epigenetic process leading to near dosage equivalence in X-linked gene products between the sexes. However, equally remarkable is the ability of a subset of genes to continue to be expressed from the otherwise inactive X ch...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Epigenomes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/7/4/29 |
| _version_ | 1797381090914074624 |
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| author | Samantha B. Peeters Bronwyn J. Posynick Carolyn J. Brown |
| author_facet | Samantha B. Peeters Bronwyn J. Posynick Carolyn J. Brown |
| author_sort | Samantha B. Peeters |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The silencing of all but one X chromosome in mammalian cells is a remarkable epigenetic process leading to near dosage equivalence in X-linked gene products between the sexes. However, equally remarkable is the ability of a subset of genes to continue to be expressed from the otherwise inactive X chromosome—in some cases constitutively, while other genes are variable between individuals, tissues or cells. In this review we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the approaches that have been used to identify escapees. The identity of escapees provides important clues to mechanisms underlying escape from XCI, an arena of study now moving from correlation to functional studies. As most escapees show greater expression in females, the not-so-inactive X chromosome is a substantial contributor to sex differences in humans, and we highlight some examples of such impact. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:47:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0203226bb8b743178490b38a34d40fe5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4655 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:47:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epigenomes |
| spelling | doaj.art-0203226bb8b743178490b38a34d40fe52023-12-22T14:07:47ZengMDPI AGEpigenomes2075-46552023-11-01742910.3390/epigenomes7040029Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome InactivationSamantha B. Peeters0Bronwyn J. Posynick1Carolyn J. Brown2Molecular Epigenetics Group, Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, CanadaMolecular Epigenetics Group, Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, CanadaMolecular Epigenetics Group, Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, CanadaThe silencing of all but one X chromosome in mammalian cells is a remarkable epigenetic process leading to near dosage equivalence in X-linked gene products between the sexes. However, equally remarkable is the ability of a subset of genes to continue to be expressed from the otherwise inactive X chromosome—in some cases constitutively, while other genes are variable between individuals, tissues or cells. In this review we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the approaches that have been used to identify escapees. The identity of escapees provides important clues to mechanisms underlying escape from XCI, an arena of study now moving from correlation to functional studies. As most escapees show greater expression in females, the not-so-inactive X chromosome is a substantial contributor to sex differences in humans, and we highlight some examples of such impact.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/7/4/29X-chromosome inactivationescapeheterochromatinrepetitive elementsallelic expressionDNA methylation |
| spellingShingle | Samantha B. Peeters Bronwyn J. Posynick Carolyn J. Brown Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome Inactivation Epigenomes X-chromosome inactivation escape heterochromatin repetitive elements allelic expression DNA methylation |
| title | Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome Inactivation |
| title_full | Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome Inactivation |
| title_fullStr | Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome Inactivation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome Inactivation |
| title_short | Out of the Silence: Insights into How Genes Escape X-Chromosome Inactivation |
| title_sort | out of the silence insights into how genes escape x chromosome inactivation |
| topic | X-chromosome inactivation escape heterochromatin repetitive elements allelic expression DNA methylation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/7/4/29 |
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