A 94 kb Genomic Sequence 3′ to the Murine Xist Gene Reveals an AT Rich Region Containing a New Testis Specific Gene Tsx

• Published in: Human molecular genetics Vol. 5; no. 11; pp. 1713 - 1726
• Main Authors: Simmler, Marie-Christine, Cunningham, David B., Clerc, Philippe, Vermat, Thierry, Caudron, Bernard, Cruaud, Corinne, Pawlak, André, Szpirer, Claude, Weissenbach, Jean, Claverie, Jean-Michel, Avner, Philip
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.11.1996
• Subjects: Animals; Base Composition; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; DNA, Complementary; Dosage Compensation, Genetic; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genes. Genome; Male; Mice; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Organ Specificity; Proteins - genetics; Rats; Restriction Mapping; RNA, Long Noncoding; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Untranslated; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Testis - physiology; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; X Chromosome; Genetic mapping; Nucleotide sequence; Rodentia; Tissue specificity; Homology; Gene expression; Inactivation; Testicle; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Contig; Gene; Mouse; Chromosome DNA; Regulatory sequence; X-Chromosome; Physical map
• DOI: 10.1093/hmg/5.11.1713
• ISSN: 0964-6906; 1460-2083

X chromosome inactivation in both mouse and human requires the presence of a cis acting locus, the X inactivation centre. This locus is thought to be involved in the initiation and spreading of the inactivation signal in early development. In order to increase our understanding of the mouse X inactivation centre, a 94 kb region immediately distal to the Xist gene has been sequenced and analysed for the presence of transcription units and/or potential cis acting regulatory elements. We have identified a novel gene, Tsx, lying 40 kb 3′ from Xist. Tsx is expressed specifically in the testis and shows no convincing homology to proteins currently in the databases. A rat homologue, also X linked, has been isolated. The mouse and rat Tsx sequences are highly divergent, suggesting that part of the X inactivation centre, including both Xist and Tsx are subject to relatively weak evolutionary constraints.