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X-chromosome inactivation and escape

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Abstract

X-chromosome inactivation, which was discovered by Mary Lyon in 1961 results in random silencing of one X chromosome in female mammals. This review is dedicated to Mary Lyon, who passed away last year. She predicted many of the features of X inactivation, for e.g., the existence of an X inactivation center, the role of L1 elements in spreading of silencing and the existence of genes that escape X inactivation. Starting from her published work here we summarize advances in the field.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants GM046883 and GM113943 (CMD) from the National Institutes of Health. JB is also supported by grant MH105768 from the National Institutes of Health. We thank X. Deng for critical reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    CHRISTINE M. DISTECHE & JOEL B. BERLETCH

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    CHRISTINE M. DISTECHE

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  1. CHRISTINE M. DISTECHE
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  2. JOEL B. BERLETCH
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Correspondence to CHRISTINE M. DISTECHE.

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[Disteche C. M. and Berletch J. B. 2015 X-chromosome inactivation and escape. J. Genet. 94, xx–xx]

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DISTECHE, C.M., BERLETCH, J.B. X-chromosome inactivation and escape. J Genet 94, 591–599 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12041-015-0574-1

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