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Related Concept Videos

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...
X-Inactivation01:58

X-Inactivation

The human X chromosome contains over ten times the number of genes as in the Y chromosome. Since males have only one X chromosome, and females have two, one might expect females to produce twice as many of the proteins, with undesirable results.
X-inactivation01:58

X-inactivation

The human X chromosome contains over ten times the number of genes as in the Y chromosome. Since males have only one X chromosome, and females have two, one might expect females to produce twice as many of the proteins, with undesirable results.
Euchromatin01:01

Euchromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions take up more dye, appearing darker, while the less-compact areas take up less dye and appear lighter. Based on the compaction level, chromatins are classified into two primary forms – euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Euchromatin is the less dense region of the chromatin and stains lighter. Euchromatin contains histone H3 extensively...
Euchromatin01:01

Euchromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions take up more dye, appearing darker, while the less-compact areas take up less dye and appear lighter. Based on the compaction level, chromatins are classified into two primary forms – euchromatin and heterochromatin.
Euchromatin is the less dense region of the chromatin and stains lighter. Euchromatin contains histone H3 extensively...
Heterochromatin02:38

Heterochromatin

The extent of chromatin compaction can be studied by staining chromatin using specific DNA binding dyes. Under the microscope, the dense-compacted regions that take up more dye are called heterochromatin. Heterochromatin is further classified into two forms – constitutive heterochromatin and facultative 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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Quick Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Protocol for Xist RNA Combined with Immunofluorescence of Histone Modification in X-chromosome Inactivation
12:42

Quick Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Protocol for Xist RNA Combined with Immunofluorescence of Histone Modification in X-chromosome Inactivation

Published on: November 26, 2014

XACT, a long noncoding transcript coating the active X chromosome in human pluripotent cells.

Céline Vallot1, Christophe Huret, Yann Lesecque

  • 1Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, France.

Nature Genetics
|January 22, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered XACT, a novel long noncoding RNA. XACT coats the active X chromosome in human cells, playing a unique role in initiating X-chromosome inactivation.

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Quick Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Protocol for Xist RNA Combined with Immunofluorescence of Histone Modification in X-chromosome Inactivation
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Combined DNA-RNA Fluorescent In situ Hybridization (FISH) to Study X Chromosome Inactivation in Differentiated Female Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
15:54

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

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is crucial for dosage compensation in mammals.
  • The long noncoding RNA XIST is the primary driver of XCI, coating and silencing the inactive X chromosome.
  • Understanding the initiation of human XCI is vital for developmental biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel factors involved in the regulation of human X-chromosome inactivation.
  • To investigate the role of long noncoding RNAs in early human development and XCI.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms controlling XCI initiation in human pluripotent cells.

Main Methods:

  • RNA sequencing and characterization of long noncoding RNAs in human pluripotent cells.
  • XIST and XACT expression analysis in human and mouse cells.
  • Functional studies to assess the role of XACT in XCI initiation.

Main Results:

  • Discovery of a novel long noncoding RNA named XACT.
  • XACT specifically coats the active X chromosome in human pluripotent cells.
  • XACT expression is observed on both X chromosomes in humans lacking XIST, unlike in mice, suggesting a species-specific role.

Conclusions:

  • XACT is a novel player in the regulation of X-chromosome inactivation in humans.
  • XACT may have a unique role in the initiation of human XCI, particularly in the absence of XIST.
  • This finding highlights potential differences in XCI regulation between humans and other mammals.