X chromosome reactivation (XCR) is the process by which the inactive X chromosome (the Xi) is re-activated in the cells of eutherian female mammals. Therian female mammalian cells have two X chromosomes, while males have only one, requiring X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) for sex-chromosome dosage compensation. In eutherians, XCI is the random inactivation of one of the X chromosomes, silencing its expression. Much of the scientific knowledge currently known about XCR comes from research limited to mouse models or stem cells.
Partial XCR may derepress one or more genes on the Xi, and the level of restored gene expression may not be as high as it would normally be on the active X chromosome (the Xa). Complete XCR restores the Xi to Xa and erases the epigenetic memory of XCI, meaning that inducing X-inactivation again will randomly select an X chromosome to silence, rather than deterministically silencing the original Xi. [1]
XCR is an emerging topic of interest for multiple reasons: [1]
In 1959 Susumu Ohno showed that the two X chromosomes of mammals were different: one appeared similar to the autosomes; the other was condensed and heterochromatic. [3] This finding suggested, independently to two groups of investigators, that one of the X chromosomes underwent inactivation.
In 1961, Mary Lyon proposed the random inactivation of one female X chromosome to explain the mottled phenotype of female mice heterozygous for coat color genes. [4] The Lyon hypothesis also accounted for the findings that one copy of the X chromosome in female cells was highly condensed, and that mice with only one copy of the X chromosome developed as infertile females. This suggested [5] to Ernest Beutler, studying heterozygous females for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, that there were two red cell populations of erythrocytes in such heterozygotes: deficient cells and normal cells, [6] depending on whether the inactivated X chromosome (in the nucleus of the red cell's precursor cell) contains the normal or defective G6PD allele.Early in the study of XCI in early embryonic development, the original state of the two X chromosomes and the mechanism by which they differentiated into the Xa and Xi was unknown. One hypothesis was that the chromosomes were inactive until one was activated. The other, favored hypothesis that was eventually validated was that both maternal and paternal X chromosomes are active until some mechanism inactivates one chromosome. [7]
As early as 1981, the concept of X reactivation appears in the literature, with a paper on induced XCR in somatic cell hybrid clones by 5-azacitidine treatment, [8] and a paper on XCR in mouse oocytes. [9]
Experiments originally showed that eliminating the X-inactive specific transcript (Xist) gene, a gene that encodes a lncRNA that mediates XCI, in post-XCI somatic cells did not result in detectable Xi reactivation. Therefore, it was believed that XCI, once established in somatic cells, was irreversible and that Xist, while required to initiate XCI, was not required to sustain it. [10] However, newer investigations using modern technologies have found evidence that Xist RNA is involved in the maintenance of XCI. For example, Zhang, et al. found that “Deleting Xist results in a loss of nucleolar association and an inability to maintain Xi heterochromatin, leading to Xi reactivation at the single gene level.” [11]
Unlike XCI, XCR lacks an appropriate in vitro system for study, limiting current research to mouse embryos and in vitro stem cell reprogramming. [12]
In mice, Xi reactivation is known to occur in three developmental stages: [13]
It is known that in the inner cell mass (the embryo proper) of mice, XCI occurs randomly, while in the extra-embryonic tissues, imprinted XCI deterministically inactivates the paternal X. In early mouse embryos, the paternal X chromosome is already partially silenced at the zygote stage by imprinted XCI, suggesting that sex-chromosome dosage compensation exists from conception. Following re-activation of the paternal X in the ICM, complete and random XCI occurs post-implantation. [14] [15]
Regarding female mouse germ cells, mature mammalian oocytes were observed to have two active X chromosomes by studies that recorded twice the expression levels from the oocytes from XX female mice as opposed to XO mice in the 1960s. [16] To determine whether XCI never occurred in these cells, or if the Xi was reactivated post-XCI, Kratzer and Chapman found that oogonia have an Xi and an Xa, but the Xi is gradually reactivated shortly before entering the meiotic cycle on the eleventh day. [9]
In human development, X chromosome reactivation also occurs in PGCs. [17] In the ICM of human embryos, however, X reactivation does not occur, because humans do not have imprinted XCI, so XCI has yet to happen in this stage of development. [18]
Because only one X chromosome is expressed, genetic mutations that lead to cancer are dominant when they occur on the Xa, and silent on the Xi. Increased dosage of X-linked genes, by whole or partial replication of the Xa or by whole or partial loss of XCI, is linked to oncogenesis. Translocations between the Xi and autosomal chromosomes can result in the silencing of autosomal tumor suppressors or reactivation of X-linked oncogenes. X-linked genes may escape inactivation, which potential oncogenic consequences. Impaired XCI and skewed X-inactivation may also be associated with oncogenesis. [19]
Gain of an X chromosome, [20] Klinefelter syndrome, [21] and XX male syndrome [22] are risk factors linked to male breast cancer. In females, there is no evidence that trisomy X or tetrasomy X females are at higher risk of cancer. [19]
Breast cancer and ovarian cancer, particularly more aggressive strains, commonly lack an Xi and have two Xa's. [23] Breast cancer cells commonly have two identical Xa's, possibly from duplication of the original Xa and loss of the original Xi. [24] Gains of X chromosomes have been observed in many other cancers, including leukemia, [25] prostate cancer, [26] [27] and intracranial germ cell cancers. [28] Potential mechanisms leading to this overexpression of X-linked genes include chromosome segregation errors, defects in general heterochromatin maintenance, and defects in Xi-specific silencing factors, the latter two of which would partially reactivate the Xi. [23]
The presence of two Xa's is a measure of the pluripotency, or ability to differentiate into many different cell types, of embryonic stem cells. [29] Cell hybrid experiments fusing somatic cells and stem cells in vitro resulted in reactivation of the entire Xi. [30] [31] [32] [33] Reprogramming of mouse and human fibroblast cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) reactivates the Xi found in the original fibroblasts. If re-differentiated and XCI occurs again, the selection of the Xi is not randomized, i.e. the X that was originally the Xi in the starting fibroblast will be deterministically inactivated again, evidencing the incompleteness of X reactivation. [34] Reprogramming can be accomplished by nuclear cloning, cell fusion with pluripotent cells, or expression of pluripotency factors. [13] Factors implicated in XCI maintenance include origin recognition complex 2 (Orc2), heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1a), [35] macroH2A1, [36] and Bmil. [13] Disruption of Orc2 or HP1a function have both been shown to lead to partial Xi reactivation. [35]
The mechanisms of Xi reactivation remains unknown, including whether they share a common pathway or if different contexts leverage completely different pathways. [13] For XCR to be repressed, silencing of Xist expression is required but not sufficient. [37] The erasure of chromatin modifications that maintain the heterochromatin of the Xi significantly contributes to XCR. H3K27me3, macroH2A, and their associated mechanisms of DNA methylation and histone deacetylation, act as a barriers to XCR in the ICM. [18] Deleting Xist RNA, demethylating DNA, and inhibiting histone hypoacetylation together increases reactivation in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts on the gene level in a stochastic manner. [38] [39]
X reactivation can be induced and tolerated in mouse extra-embryonic tissues. [13] For example, a mutation of the Polycomb protein EED leads to a lack of Xist RNA coating on the Xi and X reactivation in differentiated trophoblast stem cells. [40]
Xist repression in XCR is induced by Tsix RNA. [41] Tsix deletion appears to decrease the efficiency of XCR in the ICM in vivo, but not in iPSC reprogramming. [42]
Studies have elucidated some of the progression of XCR in the reversal of imprinted XCI in the mouse ICM, [43] of random XCI in iPSC reprogramming, [44] and in germ cell development. [45] XCR proceeds gradually, with sets of genes regaining expression at the early, mid, or late stage of XCR. At the initiation of X reactivation, early genes are transcriptionally activated and Xist repression starts. The reactivation of these early genes happens before complete Xist silencing, suggesting the latter is not necessary for the reactivation of some genes. [44] As XCR progresses, intermediate and late genes are transcriptionally activated, Xist RNA is lost, H3K27me3 is lost, and Tsix is reactivated. During this process, in genome topology there may possibly be acquisition of topologically associating domains (TADs), which are units of genome organization in 3D space, and loss of mega-domains. At completion, there is complete transcriptional reactivation of genes on the Xi, loss of epigenetic memory, DNA hypomethylation, fully established TADs, and if XCI is re-instated, the choice of Xi will be random. [1]
The human X chromosome contains a disproportionate number of genes associated with intellectual disability. [46] X-linked disorders in heterozygous female patients are particularly relevant here because these patients carry an X chromosome with the mutated disorder allele and an X chromosome with a healthy wild-type allele. [47] XCI randomly selects one X chromosome as the Xi, leaving the genes on the other X, the Xa, to be expressed. [48] Therefore, heterozygous female patients are a mosaic of healthy and diseased cells. In non-cell-autonomous X-linked disorders, such as hemophilia A, [49] the healthy cells can compensate for the diseased cells. In other disorders such as Kabuki syndrome, the mutation affects the cell such that cells carrying the healthy allele are more common (a skewed XCI pattern), reducing the severity of the disease. [50] However, in X-linked disorders where the healthy cells are insufficient to restore wild-type function, X chromosome reactivation may be a potential therapy. By reactivating the Xi in diseased cells, the previously unexpressed wild-type allele can regain some level of expression and restore function. Disorders that could hypothetically be treated by X reactivation include Rett syndrome, [51] [52] CDKL5 deficiency disorder, [53] Fragile X syndrome, etc. [54] [55] [56]
XCI serves a central function in sex-chromosome dosage compensation. Xi reactivation currently doesn't target specific genes, but rather targets the entire chromosome, running the risk of overexpression of other X-linked genes and subsequent side effects. Treatments also may not be able to specifically target the Xi chromosome, instead causing genome-wide disruption of epigenetic patterns. [13]
XCI is essential for early embryonic development. For example, female mouse embryos that inherited a paternal germline Xist deletion had trophoblast cells where both X chromosomes were fully expressed, resulting in a lethal phenotype. [57] Pre-XCI Xist deletion in mouse zygotes can be tolerated to the extent that the embryos can be carried to term, but none survive past weaning as a result of issues with organ development. [58] However, these concerns may be mitigated by the fact that applications of X reactivation are more focused on post-XCI cells, past the early developmental stages.
Xi loss or Xi reactivation is associated with certain cancers. Xist deletion in the blood compartment of mice has been shown to cause hematologic cancers, suggesting an important role for Xist RNA and for XCI in cancer suppression. [59] In addition, while Xist deletion can be tolerated in the epithelial cells and the gut, the mouse becomes more susceptible to stress-induced gut cancer, suggesting Xist and XCI are protective against chronic stress. [60] Xist deletion in mouse brains have seen no negative effects in some studies. [61] The variation among organs and cell-types for tolerance of partial X reactivation currently appears to recommend a local approach targeting individual organs for X reactivation. For example, in neurodevelopmental disorders, X reactivation may be targeted to the brain and central nervous system. [62]
In developing a treatment to reactivate the Xi, screens to identify single factors that inhibit XCI have listed many potential pharmacological targets to consider for further study. [63] [64] However, XCI is complex and maintained by a diverse set of proteins [35] and multiple mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone hypoacetylation, and the role of Xist RNA. [38] More effective X reactivation may require a synergistic combination of factors, and studies have considered combinations of decitabine with Aurora kinase inhibitors, [65] Xist antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), [66] and DNA TOP2A/TOP2B knockdown. [67] Some experimental synergistic combinations of drugs have outperformed any single factor for levels of X reactivation. [62]
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon that causes genes to be expressed or not, depending on whether they are inherited from the mother or the father. Genes can also be partially imprinted. Partial imprinting occurs when alleles from both parents are differently expressed rather than complete expression and complete suppression of one parent's allele. Forms of genomic imprinting have been demonstrated in fungi, plants and animals. In 2014, there were about 150 imprinted genes known in mice and about half that in humans. As of 2019, 260 imprinted genes have been reported in mice and 228 in humans.
A Barr body or X-chromatin is an inactive X chromosome. In species with XY sex-determination, females typically have two X chromosomes, and one is rendered inactive in a process called lyonization. Errors in chromosome separation can also result in male and female individuals with extra X chromosomes. The Lyon hypothesis states that in cells with multiple X chromosomes, all but one are inactivated early in embryonic development in mammals. The X chromosomes that become inactivated are chosen randomly, except in marsupials and in some extra-embryonic tissues of some placental mammals, in which the X chromosome from the sperm is always deactivated.
A non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is a functional RNA molecule that is not translated into a protein. The DNA sequence from which a functional non-coding RNA is transcribed is often called an RNA gene. Abundant and functionally important types of non-coding RNAs include transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), as well as small RNAs such as microRNAs, siRNAs, piRNAs, snoRNAs, snRNAs, exRNAs, scaRNAs and the long ncRNAs such as Xist and HOTAIR.
Dosage compensation is the process by which organisms equalize the expression of genes between members of different biological sexes. Across species, different sexes are often characterized by different types and numbers of sex chromosomes. In order to neutralize the large difference in gene dosage produced by differing numbers of sex chromosomes among the sexes, various evolutionary branches have acquired various methods to equalize gene expression among the sexes. Because sex chromosomes contain different numbers of genes, different species of organisms have developed different mechanisms to cope with this inequality. Replicating the actual gene is impossible; thus organisms instead equalize the expression from each gene. For example, in humans, female (XX) cells randomly silence the transcription of one X chromosome, and transcribe all information from the other, expressed X chromosome. Thus, human females have the same number of expressed X-linked genes per cell as do human males (XY), both sexes having essentially one X chromosome per cell, from which to transcribe and express genes.
X-inactivation is a process by which one of the copies of the X chromosome is inactivated in therian female mammals. The inactive X chromosome is silenced by being packaged into a transcriptionally inactive structure called heterochromatin. As nearly all female mammals have two X chromosomes, X-inactivation prevents them from having twice as many X chromosome gene products as males, who only possess a single copy of the X chromosome.
Polycomb-group proteins are a family of protein complexes first discovered in fruit flies that can remodel chromatin such that epigenetic silencing of genes takes place. Polycomb-group proteins are well known for silencing Hox genes through modulation of chromatin structure during embryonic development in fruit flies. They derive their name from the fact that the first sign of a decrease in PcG function is often a homeotic transformation of posterior legs towards anterior legs, which have a characteristic comb-like set of bristles.
Lamin-B receptor is a protein, and in humans, it is encoded by the LBR gene.
Telomerase reverse transcriptase is a catalytic subunit of the enzyme telomerase, which, together with the telomerase RNA component (TERC), comprises the most important unit of the telomerase complex.
Core histone macro-H2A.1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the H2AFY gene.
Xist is a non-coding RNA transcribed from the X chromosome of the placental mammals that acts as a major effector of the X-inactivation process. It is a component of the Xic – X-chromosome inactivation centre – along with two other RNA genes and two protein genes.
Long non-coding RNAs are a type of RNA, generally defined as transcripts more than 200 nucleotides that are not translated into protein. This arbitrary limit distinguishes long ncRNAs from small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), and other short RNAs. Given that some lncRNAs have been reported to have the potential to encode small proteins or micro-peptides, the latest definition of lncRNA is a class of RNA molecules of over 200 nucleotides that have no or limited coding capacity. Long intervening/intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) are sequences of lncRNA which do not overlap protein-coding genes.
Skewed X-chromosome inactivation occurs when the X-inactivation of one X chromosome is favored over the other, leading to an uneven number of cells with each chromosome inactivated. It is usually defined as one allele being found on the active X chromosome in over 75% of cells, and extreme skewing is when over 90% of cells have inactivated the same X chromosome. It can be caused by primary nonrandom inactivation, either by chance due to a small cell pool or directed by genes, or by secondary nonrandom inactivation, which occurs by selection.
In molecular biology, JPX transcript, XIST activator, also known as Jpx, is a long non-coding RNA. In humans, it is located on the X chromosome. It was identified during sequence analysis of the X inactivation centre, surrounding the Xist gene. Jpx upregulates expression of Xist.
Tsix is a non-coding RNA gene that is antisense to the Xist RNA. Tsix binds Xist during X chromosome inactivation. The name Tsix comes from the reverse of Xist, which stands for X-inactive specific transcript.
Epigenetics of human development is the study of how epigenetics effects human development.
X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is the phenomenon that has been selected during the evolution to balance X-linked gene dosage between XX females and XY males.
Jeannie T. Lee is a Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. She is known for her work on X-chromosome inactivation and for discovering the functions of a new class of epigenetic regulators known as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), including Xist and Tsix.
Neil Alexander Steven Brockdorff is a Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow and professor in the department of biochemistry at the University of Oxford. Brockdorff's research investigates gene and genome regulation in mammalian development. His interests are in the molecular basis of X-inactivation, the process that evolved in mammals to equalise X chromosome gene expression levels in XX females relative to XY males.
Carolyn J. Brown is a Canadian geneticist and Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia. Brown is known for her studies on X-chromosome inactivation, having discovered the human XIST gene in 1990.
Monoallelic gene expression (MAE) is the phenomenon of the gene expression, when only one of the two gene copies (alleles) is actively expressed (transcribed), while the other is silent. Diploid organisms bear two homologous copies of each chromosome (one from each parent), a gene can be expressed from both chromosomes (biallelic expression) or from only one (monoallelic expression). MAE can be Random monoallelic expression (RME) or Constitutive monoallelic expression (constitutive). Constitutive monoallelic expression occurs from the same specific allele throughout the whole organism or tissue, as a result of genomic imprinting. RME is a broader class of monoallelic expression, which is defined by random allelic choice in somatic cells, so that different cells of the multi-cellular organism express different alleles.