Heterogeneous gene expression from the inactive X chromosome: An X-linked gene that escapes X inactivation in some human cell lines but is inactivated in others
L. Carrel et Hf. Willard, Heterogeneous gene expression from the inactive X chromosome: An X-linked gene that escapes X inactivation in some human cell lines but is inactivated in others, P NAS US, 96(13), 1999, pp. 7364-7369
Citations number
69
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
In mammalian females, most genes on one X chromosome are transcriptionally
silenced as a result of X chromosome inactivation, Whereas it is well estab
lished that some X-linked genes "escape'' X inactivation and are expressed
from both active (Xa) and inactive (Xi) X chromosomes, most models for the
chromosomal control of X-linked gene expression assume that the X inactivat
ion status of a given gene is constant among different females within a pop
ulation. In this report, we test the expression of human S-linked genes in
primary cell lines from females with complete nonrandom X inactivation by u
sing transcribed polymorphisms to distinguish Sa and Si expression, Six X-l
inked genes used to document this assay system show ed monoallelic expressi
on in all informative cell lines, consistent with X inactivation, However,
a novel pattern of expression was observed for another gene, REP1; monoalle
lic expression, indicating inactivation, was detected in some lines, wherea
s biallelic expression, indicating escape from inactivation, H-as detected
in others. Furthermore, levels of Si expression,varied among cell lines tha
t expressed REP1, The cellular basis of Si expression uas examined by expre
ssion assays in single cells. These data indicate that REP1 is expressed fr
om the Xi in all cells, but that the level of expression relative to Sa lev
els is reduced. These findings suggest that Si gene expression is under a p
reviously unsuspected level of genetic or epigenetic control, likely involv
ing local or regional changes in chromatin organization that determine whet
her a gene escapes or is subject to X inactivation.