1] Mammalian Developmental Epigenetics Group, Unit of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Institut Curie, CNRS UMR3215, INSERM U934, Paris F-75248, France. [2].
Nat Rev Genet. 2011 Jun;12(6):429-42. doi: 10.1038/nrg2987.
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) ensures dosage compensation in mammals and is a paradigm for allele-specific gene expression on a chromosome-wide scale. Important insights have been made into the developmental dynamics of this process. Recent studies have identified several cis- and trans-acting factors that regulate the initiation of XCI via the X-inactivation centre. Such studies have shed light on the relationship between XCI and pluripotency. They have also revealed the existence of dosage-dependent activators that trigger XCI when more than one X chromosome is present, as well as possible mechanisms underlying the monoallelic regulation of this process. The recent discovery of the plasticity of the inactive state during early development, or during cloning, and induced pluripotency have also contributed to the X chromosome becoming a gold standard in reprogramming studies.
X 染色体失活 (XCI) 确保了哺乳动物的剂量补偿，是整条染色体上等位基因特异性基因表达的典范。人们对这一过程的发展动态有了重要的了解。最近的研究已经确定了几个顺式和反式作用因子，它们通过 X 失活中心调节 XCI 的起始。这些研究揭示了 XCI 与多能性之间的关系。它们还揭示了存在剂量依赖性激活子，当存在多个 X 染色体时，这些激活子会触发 XCI，以及该过程单等位基因调控的可能机制。最近发现，在早期发育或克隆过程中，以及在诱导多能性过程中，失活状态具有可塑性，这也促使 X 染色体成为重编程研究的黄金标准。
