Mitotic Release Of Chromatin-binding RNA Gives Insight Into X Chromosome Silencing
Saturday, September 5, 2009 - 22:29
in Biology & Nature
Early in development, mammalian female cells counteract their double dose of X chromosomes by coating one of them with a large RNA named XIST. The RNA binds to the same X chromosome from which it is transcribed and initiates a series of events leading to the chromosome's permanent silencing. Researchers recently exploited the fact that XIST temporarily dissociates from the X chromosome during mitosis and find that Aurora B kinase helps regulate the RNA's chromatin binding.