Genetic and epigenetic features direct differential efficiency of Xist-mediated silencing at X-chromosomal and autosomal locations

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00528-1
• Publication Date: 2017-09-19T15:04:56Z
• Authors: Agnese Loda; Johannes H. Brandsma; Ivaylo Vassilev; Nicolas Servant; Friedemann Loos; Azadeh Amirnasr; Erik Splinter; Emmanuel Barillot; Raymond A. Poot; Edith Heard; Joost Gribnau
• Keywords: XIST; CTCF; Dosage compensation

Xist is indispensable for X chromosome inactivation. However, how RNA directs chromosome-wide silencing and why some regions are more efficiently silenced than others remains unknown. Here, we explore the function of by inducing ectopic expression from multiple different X-linked autosomal loci in mouse aneuploid female diploid embryonic stem cells which Xist-mediated does not lead to lethal functional monosomy. We show that faithfully recapitulates endogenous inactivation any location on chromosome, whereas long-range genes less efficient. Long interspersed elements facilitate located far away transcription locus, escaping enrichment CTCF chromosomal but loci. Our findings highlight important genomic epigenetic features acquired during sex evolution an efficient process.Xist required it well understood silences others. authors induce function.