Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026

Combined DNA-RNA Fluorescent In situ Hybridization (FISH) to Study X Chromosome Inactivation in Differentiated Female Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: June 14, 2014
Monoallelic gene targeting in hypoblast stem cells reveals X chromosome inactivation
1Division of Molecular & Life Science, College of Science & Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, South Korea.
Abstract:
We recently isolated hypoblast stem cells (HypoSC), which are related to embryonic stem (ES) cells. ES cells efficiently perform homologous recombination (HR) and lack X chromosome inactivation (Xi), but it is unknown whether the same applies to HypoSC. Using the X-linked hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) gene, we find that HypoSC perform HR with similar frequency as ES cells. Monoallelic targeting in female HypoSC eliminated HPRT gene expression, implying epigenetic inactivation of the other allele. Although density-induced differentiation complicated selection, the targeted clones maintained their original properties. These results will facilitate targeted genetic manipulation of HypoSC and the study of Xi.
Related Concept Videos
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures
X-inactivation
X-Inactivation
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...
Heterochromatin
Constitutive heterochromatin: It is a highly compact region of chromatin that is mostly concentrated in the centromere and telomere. Unlike euchromatin, the amino acid at 9th...
In-vitro Mutagenesis

