| First Author | Kay GF | Year | 1998 |
| Journal | Mol Cell Endocrinol | Volume | 140 |
| Issue | 1-2 | Pages | 71-6 |
| PubMed ID | 9722171 | Mgi Jnum | J:49334 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1277339 | Doi | 10.1016/s0303-7207(98)00032-x |
| Citation | Kay GF (1998) Xist and X chromosome inactivation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 140(1-2):71-6 |
| abstractText | X inactivation acts in female mammals to equalise X-linked gene dosage between XX females and XY males. X inactivation is controlled by a single X-linked cis-acting locus called the X inactivation centre (Xic). In 1991 the Xist gene was identified as a candidate for the Xic. Xist is expressed in all adult female tissues, but only from the allele on the inactive X. The Xist transcript does not encode a protein but remains sequestered within the nucleus and co-localises with the inactive X chromosome. Transgenic and knockout studies have shown that a genomic region covering only a few kilobases either side of Xist carries all of the functions attributed to the Xic. The major questions currently occupying researchers studying X inactivation are: how do cells count their number of X chromosomes to determine whether X inactivation is necessary, and how does the Xist transcript inactivate all genes on the X chromosome? |
