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Updated: Mar 20, 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
Activators and repressors: A balancing act for X-inactivation
Leeanne Goodrich1, Barbara Panning1, Karen Nicole Leung1
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States.
Understanding X-chromosome inactivation requires studying the transcriptional regulators of Xist. This review explores how Xist is upregulated in female cells, comparing ex vivo and in vivo studies.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) is crucial for dosage compensation in female mammals.
- Xist non-coding RNA upregulation initiates XCI by coating the inactive X chromosome.
- Transcriptional regulators controlling Xist are key to understanding XCI mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review models of Xist upregulation in female cells.
- To analyze how ex vivo and in vivo studies inform Xist regulation.
- To elucidate activators and repressors controlling Xist.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on X-chromosome inactivation.
- Comparative analysis of ex vivo (mouse embryonic stem cells) and in vivo (early embryos) studies.
- Discussion of transcriptional regulators of Xist.
Main Results:
- Discrepancies exist between ex vivo and in vivo findings regarding Xist regulation.
- Potential models for Xist upregulation on a single X chromosome are discussed.
- Activators and repressors of Xist are critical for XCI.
Conclusions:
- Understanding Xist regulation is essential for deciphering X-chromosome inactivation.
- Both ex vivo and in vivo models offer valuable insights, despite discrepancies.
- Further research into transcriptional control of Xist is warranted.
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