X-chromosome inactivation is one of the most complex events observed in early embryo developments. The epigenetic changes occurred in female X-chromosome is essential to compensate dosages of X-linked genes between males and females. Because of the relevance of the epigenetic process to the normal embryo developments and stem cell studies, X-chromosome inactivation has been focused intensively for last 10 years. Initiation and regulation of the process is managed by diverse factors. Especially, proteins and non-coding RNAs encoded in X-chromosome inactivation center, and a couple of transcription factors have been reported to regulate the event. In this review, we introduce the reported factors, and how they regulate epigenetic inactivation of X-chromosomes.

Several studies have been conducted with the aim of establishing embryonic stem cell lines from porcine embryos. However, most researchers to date have found it difficult to maintain an ES-like state in derived cell lines, with the cells showing a strong tendency to differentiate into an epithelial or EpiSC-like state. We have also been able to derive cell lines of an EpiSC-like state and a differentiated non-ES-like state from porcine embryos of various origins, including invitro fertilized(IVF), in vivo derived, IVF aggregated and parthenogenetic embryos. In addition, we have generated induced pluripotent stem cells(piPSCs) via plasmid transfection of reprogramming factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc) into porcine fibroblast cells. X chromosome inactivation (XCI) have recently been addressed as a hallmark to determine whether pluripotent cell is naïve or primed state. In this study, we could confirm the X chromosome inactivation status in female cell lines as well as marker expression, pluripotency and of our Epi- SC-like pESC lines along with our piPSC line. All of our cell lines showed AP activity and expressions of the genes Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, Rex, TDGF1, bFGF, FGFR1, FGFR2, Nodal and Activin-A involved in pluripotency and signaling pathways, XCI in female cell lines, in vitro differentiation potential and a normal karyotype, thus displaying similarities to epiblast stem cells or hES cells. Therefore, it may be inferred that, as a non-permissive species, the porcine species undergoes reprogramming into a primed state during the establishment of pluripotent stem cell lines.

Drosophila simulans와 D. mauritiana는 동일 subgroup에 속하는 동포종으로, 전자는 전세계 분포종이며, 후자는 Mauritius 섬에만 서식하는 지역종이다. D. simulans의 성즐(sex comb)은 약 9.83개의 치열로 구성되어 있으며, D, mauritiana의 성즐 치열수는 약 12.90개 정도이다. D. simulans의 생식궁(genital arch)은 큰 반월형이며, D. mauritiana는 가는 막대형이다. 두 종간 성즐의 치열수와 생식궁의 형태적 차이에 미치는 X 염색체의 효과를 알아보기 위한 유전적 분석을 실시하였으며, 이를 위하여 X 염색체상 돌연변이 유전자들을 가지는 D. simulans 계통과 정상의 D. mauritiana 사이의 잡종 TEXF1/TEX을 부모계통과 역교배를 실시하여 얻은 자손들을 대상으로 상기 두가지 형질의 분석을 실시하였다. F1의 성즐 치열수는 평균 11.79개 정도였으며, 외부생식기의 일반적인 형태는 D. simulans와 D. mauritiana의 중간형이었다. 성즐의 치열수와 외부생식기의 주요 특징분석에서 X 염색체 효과에 따른 유의적인 차이는 거의 없는 것으로 나타났다.

X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a process that enables mammalian females to ensure the dosage compensation for X-linked genes. Investigating the mechanism of XCI might provide deeper understandings of chromosomal silencing, epigenetic regulation of gene expressions, and even the course of evolution. Studies on mammalian XCI conducted with mice have revealed many fundamental findings on XCI. However, difference of murine and human XCI necessitates the further investigation in human XCI. Recent success in reprogramming of differentiated cells into pluripotent stem cells showed the reversibility of XCI in vitro, X chromosome reactivation (XCR), which provides another tool to study the change in X chromosome status. This review summarizes the current knowledge of XCI during early embryonic development and describes recent achievements in studies of XCI in reprogramming process.

The purpose of this work was to examine whether X-Y chromosome dissociation in the primary spermatocytes of mice could be used as an in vivo short-term assaying system that detect environmental mutagens. Four alkylating agents(EMS, MMS, MMC and MNNG) which were known as strong mutagens were administered to BALB/c male mice 3-4 months old. In the control group, the mean frequencies of previously dissociated X and Y chromosomes and autosomes were 7.17% and 2.12%, respectively. Compared to the control group, mutagen-treated groups have no significant differences in dissociation rate of autosomes, while these groups were about 1.2-2.5 times higher in the frequencies of X-Y dissociation. Generally, X-Y dissociation frequency increased consistently with the concentration of mutagens whereas the tendency of autosome dissociation frequency was variable among several mutagens. These results suggest that X-Y dissociation in the primary spermatocytes of mice is applicable as an in vivo short-term assaying system for environmental mutagens. There were significantly distinct increase in dissociation of X-Y chromosome in both the hybrid and parents but the X-Y previous dissociation of hybrid appeared higher frequency than BALB/c and wild mice. These results indicate that the factor related to binding X-Y chromosome is specific to strains.

트리티케일 품종육성의 기초자료를 제공하기 위해, 6배체 트리티케일인 신기호밀(TC)과 6배체 보통밀 5개 품종을 교잡한 잡종 초기세대의 화분 모세포와 체세포의 염색체수 변이를 검토한 시험 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1 트리티케일과 밀의 F1 에서 화분모세포 염색체수는 조합간 변이를 보였으며 5조합 평균으로 볼때 1가 염색체 11.9, 2가 염색체 14.4, 3가 염색체 0.44개였다. 2 트리티케일과 밀의 F1 화분 임성과 교잡률 (F1 , F2 , F1 /P2 ), 화분임성과 염색체수, 2가 염색체수와 교잡률(F1 , F2 , F1 /P2 )간에는 정의 상관관계가, F1 화분 임성 및 교잡률과 1가 염색체및 3가 염색체수와는 각각 부의 상관관계가 있었다. 3. 체세포 염색체수는 F1 은 42개였고 F2 와 F1 /P2 은 고이수체(42개 이상)빈도가, F1 /P2 은 저이수체(42개 이하)의 빈도가 높았다. 4. 이하의 결과는 트리티케일과 밀을 교배하여 얻은 F2 나 여교잡세대에서의 체세포 염색체수 구성이 Random이 아님을 암시하고 있다.