X chromosome dosage compensation: how mammals keep the balance

The development of genetic sex determination and cytologically distinct sex chromosomes leads to the potential problem of gene dosage imbalances between autosomes and sex chromosomes and also between males and females. To circumvent these imbalances, mammals have developed an elaborate system of dos...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inAnnual review of genetics Vol. 42; p. 733
Main Authors Payer, Bernhard, Lee, Jeannie T
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.2008
Subjects
Animals
Biological Evolution
Birds - genetics
Chromosomes, Human, X - genetics
Chromosomes, Human, Y - genetics
Dosage Compensation, Genetic
Epigenesis, Genetic
Female
Genomic Imprinting
Humans
Invertebrates - genetics
Male
Mammals - genetics
Models, Genetic
RNA, Long Noncoding
RNA, Untranslated - genetics
Sex Determination Processes
X Chromosome - genetics
Y Chromosome - genetics
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:The development of genetic sex determination and cytologically distinct sex chromosomes leads to the potential problem of gene dosage imbalances between autosomes and sex chromosomes and also between males and females. To circumvent these imbalances, mammals have developed an elaborate system of dosage compensation that includes both upregulation and repression of the X chromosome. Recent advances have provided insights into the evolutionary history of how both the imprinted and random forms of X chromosome inactivation have come about. Furthermore, our understanding of the epigenetic switch at the X-inactivation center and the molecular aspects of chromosome-wide silencing has greatly improved recently. Here, we review various facets of the ever-expanding field of mammalian dosage compensation and discuss its evolutionary, developmental, and mechanistic components.
ISSN:0066-4197
DOI:10.1146/annurev.genet.42.110807.091711