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A region of euchromatin coincides with an extensive tandem repeat on the mouse (Mus musculus) inactive X chromosome

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Abstract

Euchromatic features are largely absent from the human inactive X chromosome (Xi), with the exception of several large tandem repeats that can be detected as euchromatin bands at metaphase. Despite residing megabases apart, these tandem repeats make frequent inactive X-specific interactions. The mouse homologue has been reported for at least one of the tandem repeats, but whether the mouse Xi is also characterized by distinct bands of euchromatin remains unknown. We examined the mouse Xi for the presence of euchromatin bands by examining the pattern of histone H3 dimethylated at lysine 4 and detected two major signals. The first band resides in the subtelomeric region of band XF5 and may correspond to the pseudoautosomal region. The second band localizes to XE3 and coincides with an extensive complex repeat composed of a large tandem and inverted repeat segment as well as several large short interspersed nuclear element (SINE)-rich tandem repeats. Fluorescence in situ hybridization reveals that sequences with homology to the repeat region are scattered along the length of the Y chromosome. Immunofluorescence analysis of histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 9 on metaphase chromosomes indicates that the repeat region corresponds to a band of constitutive heterochromatin on the male X and female active X chromosomes, whereas the euchromatin signal appears to be female specific. These data suggest that the band of euchromatin observed at XE3 is unique to the mouse Xi, comparable to the chromatin arrangement of several large tandem repeats located on the human X chromosome.

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Abbreviations

Astx:

Amplified spermatogenic transcripts X encoded

BAC:

Bacterial artificial chromosome

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

CTCF:

CCCTC-binding factor

DAPI:

4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole

FISH:

Fluorescence in situ hybridization

H3K4me2:

Histone H3 dimethylated at lysine 4

H3K9me3:

Histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 9

H3K27me3:

Histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 27

kb:

Kilobase

lincRNA:

Long noncoding RNA

LINE:

Long interspersed nuclear element

LTR:

Long terminal repeat

Mb:

Megabase

PAR:

Pseudoautosomal region

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

Rps12:

Ribosomal protein S12

SINE:

Short interspersed nuclear element

Srsx:

Serine-rich secreted X-linked

Vmn2r121:

Vomeronasal 2 receptor 121

Xa:

Active X chromosome

XCI:

X chromosome inactivation

Xi:

Inactive X chromosome

Xic:

X inactivation center

Xist:

X inactive-specific transcript

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health [GM073120 to B.P.C.].

Ethical standards

Experiments performed in this manuscript comply with the current laws of the USA.

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The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, King 3076, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4295, USA

    Emily M. Darrow, Andrew P. Seberg, Sunny Das, Debbie M. Figueroa, Zhuo Sun, Shawn C. Moseley & Brian P. Chadwick

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  1. Emily M. Darrow
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  2. Andrew P. Seberg
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  3. Sunny Das
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Correspondence to Brian P. Chadwick.

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Darrow, E.M., Seberg, A.P., Das, S. et al. A region of euchromatin coincides with an extensive tandem repeat on the mouse (Mus musculus) inactive X chromosome. Chromosome Res 22, 335–350 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-014-9424-x

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