TY - JOUR
T1 - X chromosome inactivation of the human TIMP gene
AU - Brown, Carolyn J.
AU - Fienniken, Ann M.
AU - Williams, Bryan R.G.
AU - Willard, Huntington F.
PY - 1990/7/25
Y1 - 1990/7/25
N2 - X chromosome inactivation results in the cis-limited inactivation of most, but not all, genes on one of the two X chromosomes in mammalian females. The molecular basis for inactivation is unknown. In order to examine the transcriptional activity of human X-linked genes, a series of mouse-human somatic cell hybrids under positive selection for the active or inactive human X chromosome has been created. Northern blot analysis of RNA from these hybrids showed that the human MIC2 gene, which is known to escape X inactivation, was transcribed in hybrids with either the active or inactive X chromosome. In contrast, the human TIMP gene was only transcribed in hybrids with an active human X chromosome. Further analysis using the polymerase chain reaction showed that there was at least one-hundred fold less transcription of the TIMP gene from the inactive X than from the active X chromosome. These findings demonstrate that the human TIMP gene is subject to X inactivation at the level of transcription, and illustrate the usefulness of the polymerase chain reaction to study the extent of X-linked gene repression by the process of X inactivation.
AB - X chromosome inactivation results in the cis-limited inactivation of most, but not all, genes on one of the two X chromosomes in mammalian females. The molecular basis for inactivation is unknown. In order to examine the transcriptional activity of human X-linked genes, a series of mouse-human somatic cell hybrids under positive selection for the active or inactive human X chromosome has been created. Northern blot analysis of RNA from these hybrids showed that the human MIC2 gene, which is known to escape X inactivation, was transcribed in hybrids with either the active or inactive X chromosome. In contrast, the human TIMP gene was only transcribed in hybrids with an active human X chromosome. Further analysis using the polymerase chain reaction showed that there was at least one-hundred fold less transcription of the TIMP gene from the inactive X than from the active X chromosome. These findings demonstrate that the human TIMP gene is subject to X inactivation at the level of transcription, and illustrate the usefulness of the polymerase chain reaction to study the extent of X-linked gene repression by the process of X inactivation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0025291645&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/nar/18.14.4191
DO - 10.1093/nar/18.14.4191
M3 - Article
C2 - 2377460
AN - SCOPUS:0025291645
VL - 18
SP - 4191
EP - 4195
JO - Nucleic Acids Research
JF - Nucleic Acids Research
SN - 0305-1048
IS - 14
ER -