Difference between random and imprinted X inactivation in common voles

• Published in: Chromosoma Vol. 119; no. 5; pp. 541 - 552
• Main Authors: Dementyeva, Elena V, Shevchenko, Alexander I, Anopriyenko, Olga V, Mazurok, Nina A, Elisaphenko, Eugeny A, Nesterova, Tatyana B, Brockdorff, Neil, Zakian, Suren M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.10.2010; Springer-Verlag; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Arvicolinae - genetics; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Chromosome Mapping; Developmental Biology; DNA Methylation; Eukaryotic Microbiology; Female; Gene Expression; Genes, X-Linked; Genomic Imprinting; Human Genetics; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Life Sciences; Male; Muridae; Repressor Proteins; Research Article; RNA, Long Noncoding; RNA, Untranslated - genetics; X Chromosome - genetics; X Chromosome - metabolism; X Chromosome Inactivation; Extraembryonic Tissue; Vole Species; Phage Clone; Trophoblast Stem; Common Vole
• ISSN: 0009-5915; 1432-0886
• DOI: 10.1007/s00412-010-0277-6

During early development in female mammals, most genes on one of the two X-chromosomes undergo transcriptional silencing. In the extraembryonic lineages of some eutherian species, imprinted X-inactivation of the paternal X-chromosome occurs. In the cells of the embryo proper, the choice of the future inactive X-chromosome is random. We mapped several genes on the X-chromosomes of five common vole species and compared their expression and methylation patterns in somatic and extraembryonic tissues, where random and imprinted X-inactivation occurs, respectively. In extraembryonic tissues, more genes were expressed on the inactive X-chromosome than in somatic tissues. We also found that the methylation status of the X-linked genes was always in accordance with their expression pattern in somatic, but not in extraembryonic tissues. The data provide new evidence that imprinted X-inactivation is less complete and/or stable than the random form and DNA methylation contributes less to its maintenance.