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A gene from the region of the human X inactivation centre is expressed exclusively from the inactive X chromosome

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Abstract

X-chromosome inactivation results in the cis-limited dosage compensation of genes on one of the pair of X chromosomes in mammalian females. Although most X-linked genes are believed to be subject to inactivation, several are known to be expressed from both active and inactive X chromosomes. Here we describe an X-linked gene with a novel expression pattern—transcripts are detected only from the inactive X chromosome (Xi) and not from the active X chromosome (Xa). This gene, called XIST (for Xi-specific transcripts), is a candidate for a gene either involved in or uniquely influenced by the process of X inactivation.

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Author notes

  1. Andrea Ballabio, Markus Grompe and Rossana Tonlorenzi: Institute for Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA

  2. Huntington F. Willard: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, 94305, USA

    Carolyn J. Brown, Andrea Ballabio, James L. Rupert, Ronald G. Lafreniere, Markus Grompe, Rossana Tonlorenzi & Huntington F. Willard

Authors
  1. Carolyn J. Brown
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  2. Andrea Ballabio
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  3. James L. Rupert
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  4. Ronald G. Lafreniere
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  5. Markus Grompe
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  6. Rossana Tonlorenzi
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  7. Huntington F. Willard
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Brown, C., Ballabio, A., Rupert, J. et al. A gene from the region of the human X inactivation centre is expressed exclusively from the inactive X chromosome. Nature 349, 38–44 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/349038a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/349038a0

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