The B-side of Xist

F1000Res. 2020 Jan 28:9:F1000 Faculty Rev-55. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.21362.1. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Female mammals express the long noncoding X inactivation-specific transcript ( Xist) RNA to initiate X chromosome inactivation (XCI) that eventually results in the formation of the Barr body. Xist encompasses half a dozen repeated sequence stretches containing motifs for RNA-binding proteins that recruit effector complexes with functions for silencing genes and establishing a repressive chromatin configuration. Functional characterization of these effector proteins unveils the cooperation of a number of pathways to repress genes on the inactive X chromosome. Mechanistic insights can be extended to other noncoding RNAs with similar structure and open avenues for the design of new therapies to switch off gene expression. Here we review recent advances in the understanding of Xist and on this basis try to synthesize a model for the initiation of XCI.

Keywords: Dosage compensation; chromatin; X inactivation; Xist; non-coding RNA; SPEN; Polycomb; gene repression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin
  • Female
  • Gene Silencing
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics
  • X Chromosome Inactivation*
  • X Chromosome*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • RNA, Long Noncoding

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (31003A_175643/1).