💡 New paper out in @natcellbio.nature.com 💥💥💥🚀🚀🚀 We uncover an unexpected role for endogenous Xist RNA in regulating X-linked genes that escape X-inactivation well beyond early development, in differentiated, non-dividing cells and in vivo post implantation embryos 👇👇👇👇
We show that increasing levels of Xist RNA repress escapee genes, well beyond early development, in differentiated, non-dividing cells and in vivo post implantation embryos.
Xist-mediated repression of escapees is SPEN-dependent and reshapes Xi 3D organization: TAD-like domains over escapee clusters are lost upon silencing and re-emerged when transcription resumes.
We propose that natural fluctuations in Xist RNA levels - during development, in adult tissues, or disease - tune escapee gene dosage, laying the groundwork to explore Xist as a molecular signature of X-linked gene mis-regulation in health and disease.