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Co-evolution of X-chromosome inactivation and imprinting in mammals

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 6, pages 403–410 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent studies have revealed mechanistic parallels between imprinted X-chromosome inactivation and autosomal imprinting. We suggest that neither mechanism was present in ancestral egg-laying mammals, and that both arose when the evolution of the placenta exerted selective pressure to imprint growth-related genes. We also propose that non-coding RNAs and histone modifications were adopted for the imprinting of growth suppressors on the X chromosome and on autosomes. This provides a unified hypothesis for the evolution of X-chromosome inactivation and imprinting.

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Figure 1: Dosage compensation versus X-chromosome inactivation in animal species.
Figure 2: Life cycle of X-chromosome inactivation in the mouse.
Figure 3: A mechanistic comparison of X-chromosome inactivation and imprinting.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank G. Kelsey, M. Constancia, M. Hemberger, W. Dean, G. Smits and D. Haig for advice and discussion. This work was supported by grants from the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the UK Medical Research Council and the European Union.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Developmental Genetics and Imprinting, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB2 4AT, United Kingdom

    Wolf Reik & Annabelle Lewis

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  1. Wolf Reik
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  2. Annabelle Lewis
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Correspondence to Wolf Reik.

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Related links

Related links

DATABASES

Entrez Gene

Air

Cdkn1c

Igf2

Kcnq1ot1

Phlda2

Sry

Xist

FURTHER INFORMATION

Epigenome Network of Excellence web site

Geneimprint.com

Harwell Mouse Imprinting web site

University of Otago Imprinted Gene Catalogue

Wolf Reik's laboratory

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Reik, W., Lewis, A. Co-evolution of X-chromosome inactivation and imprinting in mammals. Nat Rev Genet 6, 403–410 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg1602

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