Impact of flanking chromosomal sequences on localization and silencing by the human non-coding RNA XIST.

ABSTRACT:

Background

X-chromosome inactivation is a striking example of epigenetic silencing in which expression of the long non-coding RNA XIST initiates the heterochromatinization and silencing of one of the pair of X chromosomes in mammalian females. To understand how the RNA can establish silencing across millions of basepairs of DNA we have modelled the process by inducing expression of XIST from nine different locations in human HT1080 cells.

Results

Localization of XIST, depletion of Cot-1 RNA, perinuclear localization, and ubiquitination of H2A occurs at all sites examined, while recruitment of H3K9me3 was not observed. Recruitment of the heterochromatic features SMCHD1, macroH2A, H3K27me3, and H4K20me1 occurs independently of each other in an integration site-dependent manner

SUBMITTER: Kelsey AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4591629 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature