Epigenetic predisposition to expression of <it>TIMP1 </it>from the human inactive X chromosome

• Main Authors: Brown Carolyn J, Anderson Catherine L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2005-09-01
• Series: BMC Genetics
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2156/6/48

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>X inactivation in mammals results in the transcriptional silencing of an X chromosome in females, and this inactive X acquires many of the epigenetic features of silent chromatin. However, not all genes on the inactive X are silenced, and we have examined the <it>TIMP1 </it>gene, which has variable inactivation amongst females. This has allowed us to examine the features permitting expression from the otherwise silent X by comparing inactive X chromosomes with and without <it>TIMP1 </it>expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Expression was generally correlated with euchromatic chromatin features, including DNA hypomethylation, nuclease sensitivity, acetylation of histone H3 and H4 and hypomethylation of H3 at lysines 9 and 27. Demethylation of the <it>TIMP1 </it>gene by 5-azacytidine was able to induce expression from the inactive X chromosome in somatic cell hybrids, and this expression was also accompanied by features of active chromatin. Acetylated histone H3 continued to be observed even when expression was lost in cells that naturally expressed <it>TIMP1</it>; while acetylation was lost upon <it>TIMP1 </it>silencing in cells where expression from the inactive X had been induced by demethylation. Thus ongoing acetylation of inactive X chromosomes does not seem to be simply a 'memory' of expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We propose that acetylation of H3 is an epigenetic mark that predisposes to <it>TIMP1 </it>expression from the inactive X chromosome in some females.</p>