| First Author | Plath K | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 300 |
| Issue | 5616 | Pages | 131-5 |
| PubMed ID | 12649488 | Mgi Jnum | J:82788 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2655034 | Doi | 10.1126/science.1084274 |
| Citation | Plath K, et al. (2003) Role of histone H3 lysine 27 methylation in X inactivation. Science 300(5616):131-5 |
| abstractText | The Polycomb group (PcG) protein Eed is implicated in regulation of imprinted X-chromosome inactivation in extraembryonic cells but not of random X inactivation in embryonic cells. The Drosophila homolog of the Eed-Ezh2 PcG protein complex achieves gene silencing through methylation of histone H3 on lysine 27 (H3-K27), which suggests a role for H3-K27 methylation in imprinted X inactivation. Here we demonstrate that transient recruitment of the Eed-Ezh2 complex to the inactive X chromosome (Xi) occurs during initiation of X inactivation in both extraembryonic and embryonic cells and is accompanied by H3-K27 methylation. Recruitment of the complex and methylation on the Xi depend on Xist RNA but are independent of its silencing function. Together, our results suggest a role for Eed-Ezh2-mediated H3-K27 methylation during initiation of both imprinted and random X inactivation and demonstrate that H3-K27 methylation is not sufficient for silencing of the Xi. |
