| First Author | Rastan S | Year | 1994 |
| Journal | Curr Opin Genet Dev | Volume | 4 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 292-7 |
| PubMed ID | 8032207 | Mgi Jnum | J:39580 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:86934 | Doi | 10.1016/s0959-437x(05)80056-5 |
| Citation | Rastan S (1994) X chromosome inactivation and the Xist gene. Curr Opin Genet Dev 4(2):292-7 |
| abstractText | X chromosome inactivation in mammals was first described over 30 years ago. The biological problem is how to achieve gene dosage equivalence between XX females and XY males; the solution is to genetically silence one whole X chromosome in each cell of the early developing female embryo. The molecular mechanism by which this is achieved, however, remains a mystery. Recently, through the discovery of the Xist gene, it appears that we may be on the brink of learning how this unique phenomenon is mediated. Here, I discuss the developmental regulation of X inactivation and the candidacy of Xist as the X chromosome inactivation centre, with particular reference to its possible role in the initiation, spread and maintenance of X inactivation. |
