| First Author | Yang C | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | Genetics | Volume | 192 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 1281-93 |
| PubMed ID | 23023002 | Mgi Jnum | J:193936 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5469939 | Doi | 10.1534/genetics.112.143743 |
| Citation | Yang C, et al. (2012) Targeting of >1.5 Mb of human DNA into the mouse X chromosome reveals presence of cis-acting regulators of epigenetic silencing. Genetics 192(4):1281-93 |
| abstractText | Regulatory sequences can influence the expression of flanking genes over long distances, and X chromosome inactivation is a classic example of cis-acting epigenetic gene regulation. Knock-ins directed to the Mus musculus Hprt locus offer a unique opportunity to analyze the spread of silencing into different human DNA sequences in the identical genomic environment. X chromosome inactivation of four knock-in constructs, including bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) integrations of over 195 kb, was demonstrated by both the lack of expression from the inactive X chromosome in females with nonrandom X chromosome inactivation and promoter DNA methylation of the human transgene in females. We further utilized promoter DNA methylation to assess the inactivation status of 74 human reporter constructs comprising >1.5 Mb of DNA. Of the 47 genes examined, only the PHB gene showed female DNA hypomethylation approaching the level seen in males, and escape from X chromosome inactivation was verified by demonstration of expression from the inactive X chromosome. Integration of PHB resulted in lower DNA methylation of the flanking HPRT promoter in females, suggesting the action of a dominant cis-acting escape element. Female-specific DNA hypermethylation of CpG islands not associated with promoters implies a widespread imposition of DNA methylation during X chromosome inactivation; yet transgenes demonstrated differential capacities to accumulate DNA methylation when integrated into the identical location on the inactive X chromosome, suggesting additional cis-acting sequence effects. As only one of the human transgenes analyzed escaped X chromosome inactivation, we conclude that elements permitting ongoing expression from the inactive X are rare in the human genome. |
