Project description:Skewed X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) plays an important role in the phenotypic heterogeneity of X-linked disorders. However, the role of skewed XCI in XCI–escaping gene SHOX regulation is unclear. Here, we focused on a heterozygous deletion of SHOX gene enhancer with clinical heterogeneity. Using SNP array, we detected that the female proband with Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD) carried an 857 kb deletion on Xp22.3 (encompassing SHOX enhancer) and a 5,707 kb large-fragment deletion on Xq25q26. XCI analysis revealed that the X-chromosome with the Xq25q26 large-fragment deletion was completely inactivated, which forced the complete activation of the other X-chromosome carrying SHOX enhancer deletion. While the Xp22.3 deletion locates on the escaping XCI region, under the combined action of skewed XCI and escaping XCI, transcription of SHOX gene was mainly from the activated X-chromosome with SHOX enhancer defect, involving in the formation of LWD phenotype. Interestingly, this SHOX enhancer deletion was inherited from her healthy mother, who also demonstrated completely skewed XCI. However, the X-chromosome with SHOX enhancer deletion was inactivated, and the normal X-chromosome was activated. Combing with escaping XCI, her phenotype was almost normal. In summary, this study was a rare report of SHOX gene enhancer deletion in a family with clinical heterogeneity due to skewed inactivation of different X-chromosomes, which can help in the genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis of disorders in females with SHOX defect.
Project description:The spatial proximity between regulatory elements and their target genes has a profound affect on gene expression. X Chromosome Inactivation (XCI) is an epigenetic process by which an entire chromosome is rendered, for the most part, transcriptionally silent. A few genes are known to escape XCI and the mechanism for this escape remains unclear. Here, using mouse trophectodermal stem cells, we address whether specific chromosomal interactions facilitate escape from XCI by bringing escape-specific regulatory elements in close proximity to gene promoters. Our results suggest a model where escape from XCI occurs within topologically associated domains. As such, escaping genes and the regulatory sequences required for their escape are likely located within close linear proximity to each other. The datasets provided include those generated from allele-specific 4C-Seq of genes escaping XCI, genes subject to XCI, and non-genic regions of the X chromosome. FASTQ files, text files containing genomic coordiantes, and BED aligmnets are provided. All sequences were mapped relative to mouse genome build mm9. Deep sequencing of circular chromosome conformation capture (4C-Seq) of genes escaping X inactivation in mouse trophoblast stem cells
Project description:Background: During early embryonic development, one of the two X chromosomes in mammalian female cells is inactivated to compensate for a potential imbalance in transcript levels with male cells containing a single X chromosome. We use mouse female Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) with nonrandom XCI and polymorphic X chromosomes to study the dynamics of gene silencing over the inactive X chromosome (Xi) by high-resolution allele-specific RNA-Seq. Results: Induction of XCI by differentiation of female ESCs shows that genes proximal to the X-inactivation center (XIC) are silenced earlier than distal genes, while lowly expressed genes show faster XCI dynamics than highly expressed genes. The active X chromosome shows a minor but significant increase in gene activity during differentiation, resulting in complete dosage compensation in differentiated cell types. Genes escaping XCI show little or no silencing during early propagation of XCI. Using allele-specific RNA-Seq of Neural Progenitor Cells (NPCs) generated from the female ESCs, we identify three regions distal to the XIC that stably escape XCI during differentiation of the female ESCs, as well as during propagation of the NPCs. These regions coincide with Topologically Associated Domains (TADs) as determined in the undifferentiated female ESCs. Also the previously characterized human gene clusters escaping XCI correlate with TADs. Conclusions: Together, the dynamics of gene silencing observed over the Xi during XCI provide further insight in the formation and maintenance of the repressive Xi complex. The association of regions of escape with TADs, in mouse and human, suggests a regulatory role for TADs during propagation of XCI. 19 RNA-Seq profiles of mouse ESCs, EpiSCs and NPCs, mostly from distant crosses to allow allele specific mapping. 1 HiC profile of an undifferentiated mouse female ESC line containing a Tsix mutation. Mainly focusing on X inactivation.
Project description:The spatial proximity between regulatory elements and their target genes has a profound affect on gene expression. X Chromosome Inactivation (XCI) is an epigenetic process by which an entire chromosome is rendered, for the most part, transcriptionally silent. A few genes are known to escape XCI and the mechanism for this escape remains unclear. Here, using mouse trophectodermal stem cells, we address whether specific chromosomal interactions facilitate escape from XCI by bringing escape-specific regulatory elements in close proximity to gene promoters. Our results suggest a model where escape from XCI occurs within topologically associated domains. As such, escaping genes and the regulatory sequences required for their escape are likely located within close linear proximity to each other. The datasets provided include those generated from allele-specific 4C-Seq of genes escaping XCI, genes subject to XCI, and non-genic regions of the X chromosome. FASTQ files, text files containing genomic coordiantes, and BED aligmnets are provided. All sequences were mapped relative to mouse genome build mm9.
Project description:Evidence from a few genes of diverse species suggests that marsupial X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is characterized by exclusive, but leaky, inactivation of the paternally derived X chromosome. To comprehensively study the mechanism of marsupial XCI, we profiled parent-of-origin-specific-allele expression, DNA methylation, and histone modifications in opossum fetal brain and extra-embryonic membranes. The majority (152/176) of X-linked genes exhibited paternally imprinted expression with nearly 100% maternal allele expression, whereas 24 loci (14%) escaped inactivation showing varying levels of biallelic expression. In addition to regulation by the non-coding RSX transcript, strong depletion of H3K27me3 at escaper gene loci indicates that histone states also influence opossum XCI. Notably, the opossum does not show an association between X-linked gene expression and promoter DNA methylation. Our study provides the first comprehensive catalogue of parent-of-origin expression status for X-linked genes in a marsupial and sheds light on the regulation and evolution of imprinted XCI in mammals. Profiling of four histone modifications in embryonic day 13 opossum (Monodelphis domestica) fetal brain by Illumina ChIP-seq
Project description:Evidence from a few genes of diverse species suggests that marsupial X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is characterized by exclusive, but leaky, inactivation of the paternally derived X chromosome. To comprehensively study the mechanism of marsupial XCI, we profiled parent-of-origin-specific-allele expression, DNA methylation, and histone modifications in opossum fetal brain and extra-embryonic membranes. The majority (152/176) of X-linked genes exhibited paternally imprinted expression with nearly 100% maternal allele expression, whereas 24 loci (14%) escaped inactivation showing varying levels of biallelic expression. In addition to regulation by the non-coding RSX transcript, strong depletion of H3K27me3 at escaper gene loci indicates that histone states also influence opossum XCI. Notably, the opossum does not show an association between X-linked gene expression and promoter DNA methylation. Our study provides the first comprehensive catalogue of parent-of-origin expression status for X-linked genes in a marsupial and sheds light on the regulation and evolution of imprinted XCI in mammals. Profiling of expression level and allele-specific expression ratios in embryonic day 13 opossum (Monodelphis domestica) fetal brain and extra-embyonic membranes by Illumina RNA-seq
Project description:Evidence from a few genes of diverse species suggests that marsupial X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is characterized by exclusive, but leaky, inactivation of the paternally derived X chromosome. To comprehensively study the mechanism of marsupial XCI, we profiled parent-of-origin-specific-allele expression, DNA methylation, and histone modifications in opossum fetal brain and extra-embryonic membranes. The majority (152/176) of X-linked genes exhibited paternally imprinted expression with nearly 100% maternal allele expression, whereas 24 loci (14%) escaped inactivation showing varying levels of biallelic expression. In addition to regulation by the non-coding RSX transcript, strong depletion of H3K27me3 at escaper gene loci indicates that histone states also influence opossum XCI. Notably, the opossum does not show an association between X-linked gene expression and promoter DNA methylation. Our study provides the first comprehensive catalogue of parent-of-origin expression status for X-linked genes in a marsupial and sheds light on the regulation and evolution of imprinted XCI in mammals.
Project description:Background: During early embryonic development, one of the two X chromosomes in mammalian female cells is inactivated to compensate for a potential imbalance in transcript levels with male cells containing a single X chromosome. We use mouse female Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) with nonrandom XCI and polymorphic X chromosomes to study the dynamics of gene silencing over the inactive X chromosome (Xi) by high-resolution allele-specific RNA-Seq. Results: Induction of XCI by differentiation of female ESCs shows that genes proximal to the X-inactivation center (XIC) are silenced earlier than distal genes, while lowly expressed genes show faster XCI dynamics than highly expressed genes. The active X chromosome shows a minor but significant increase in gene activity during differentiation, resulting in complete dosage compensation in differentiated cell types. Genes escaping XCI show little or no silencing during early propagation of XCI. Using allele-specific RNA-Seq of Neural Progenitor Cells (NPCs) generated from the female ESCs, we identify three regions distal to the XIC that stably escape XCI during differentiation of the female ESCs, as well as during propagation of the NPCs. These regions coincide with Topologically Associated Domains (TADs) as determined in the undifferentiated female ESCs. Also the previously characterized human gene clusters escaping XCI correlate with TADs. Conclusions: Together, the dynamics of gene silencing observed over the Xi during XCI provide further insight in the formation and maintenance of the repressive Xi complex. The association of regions of escape with TADs, in mouse and human, suggests a regulatory role for TADs during propagation of XCI.
Project description:X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) provides a dosage compensation mechanism where, in each female cell, one of the two X chromosomes is randomly silenced. However, some genes on the inactive X chromosome and outside the pseudoautosomal regions escape from XCI and are expressed from both alleles (escapees). We investigated XCI at single-cell resolution combining deep single cellRNA sequencing with whole-genome sequencing to examine allelic-specific expression in 935 primary fibroblast and 48 lymphoblastoid single cells from five female individuals. In this framework we integrated an original method to identify and exclude doublets of cells. In fibroblast cells, we have identified 55 genes as escapees including five novel escapee genes. Moreover, we observed that all genes exhibit a variable propensity to escape XCI in each cell and cell type and that each cell displays a distinct expression profile of the escapee genes. A metric, the Inactivation Score—defined as the mean of the allelic expression profiles of the escapees per cell—enables us to discover a heterogeneous and continuous degree of cellular XCI with extremes represented by “inactive” cells, i.e., cells exclusively expressing the escaping genes from the active X chromosome and “escaping” cells expressing the escapees from both alleles. We found that this effect is associated with cell-cycle phases and, independently, with the XIST expression level, which is higher in the quiescent phase (G0). Single-cell allele-specific expression is a powerful tool to identify novel escapees in different tissues and provide evidence of an unexpected cellular heterogeneity of XCI.