Open Access
Open access
Journal of Cell Science, volume 121, issue 7, pages 1119-1127

The facultative heterochromatin of the inactive X chromosome has a distinctive condensed ultrastructure

Rego Alena 1
Belmont A 1
Sinclair Paul B. 1
Kireev Igor 1
Wei Tao 1
Belmont Andrew S. 1
1
 
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Publication typeJournal Article
Publication date2008-04-01
Quartile SCImago
Q1
Quartile WOS
Q3
Impact factor4
ISSN00219533, 14779137
Cell Biology
Abstract

The mammalian inactive X chromosome (Xi) is a model for facultative heterochromatin. Increased DNA compaction for the Xi, and for facultative heterochromatin in general, has long been assumed based on recognition of a distinct Barr body using nucleic-acid staining. This conclusion has been challenged by a report revealing equal volumes occupied by the inactive and active X chromosomes. Here, we use light and electron microscopy to demonstrate in mouse and human fibroblasts a unique Xi ultrastructure, distinct from euchromatin and constitutive heterochromatin, containing tightly packed, heterochromatic fibers/domains with diameters in some cases approaching that of prophase chromatids. Significant space between these packed structures is observed even within condensed regions of the Xi. Serial-section analysis also reveals extensive contacts of the Xi with the nuclear envelope and/or nucleolus, with nuclear envelope association being observed in all cells. Implications of our results for models of Xi gene silencing and chromosome territory organization are discussed.

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GOST Copy
Rego A. et al. The facultative heterochromatin of the inactive X chromosome has a distinctive condensed ultrastructure // Journal of Cell Science. 2008. Vol. 121. No. 7. pp. 1119-1127.
GOST all authors (up to 50) Copy
Rego A., Sinclair P. B., Belmont A., Wei T., Kireev I., Belmont A. S. The facultative heterochromatin of the inactive X chromosome has a distinctive condensed ultrastructure // Journal of Cell Science. 2008. Vol. 121. No. 7. pp. 1119-1127.
RIS |
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RIS Copy
TY - JOUR
DO - 10.1242/JCS.026104
UR - https://doi.org/10.1242%2FJCS.026104
TI - The facultative heterochromatin of the inactive X chromosome has a distinctive condensed ultrastructure
T2 - Journal of Cell Science
AU - Rego, Alena
AU - Sinclair, Paul B.
AU - Belmont, A
AU - Wei, Tao
AU - Kireev, Igor
AU - Belmont, Andrew S.
PY - 2008
DA - 2008/04/01 00:00:00
PB - The Company of Biologists
SP - 1119-1127
IS - 7
VL - 121
SN - 0021-9533
SN - 1477-9137
ER -
BibTex |
Cite this
BibTex Copy
@article{2008_Rego
author = {Alena Rego and Paul B. Sinclair and A Belmont and Tao Wei and Igor Kireev and Andrew S. Belmont},
title = {The facultative heterochromatin of the inactive X chromosome has a distinctive condensed ultrastructure},
journal = {Journal of Cell Science},
year = {2008},
volume = {121},
publisher = {The Company of Biologists},
month = {apr},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1242%2FJCS.026104},
number = {7},
pages = {1119--1127},
doi = {10.1242/JCS.026104}
}
MLA
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MLA Copy
Rego, Alena, et al. “The facultative heterochromatin of the inactive X chromosome has a distinctive condensed ultrastructure.” Journal of Cell Science, vol. 121, no. 7, Apr. 2008, pp. 1119-1127. https://doi.org/10.1242%2FJCS.026104.
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