Abstract
It is widely accepted that only one of two X chromosomes present in the somatic cells of female mammals is active (Lyon 1961). This results in a similar dosage relationship between functional X chromosomes and autosomes in females and males. This compensation occurs early in development between the 2-cell stage (Hoppe and Whitten 1972) and the time of implantation of the embryo into the uterus (Gardner and Lyon 1971). An important issue concerning X-chromosome differentiation is the functional state of X chromosomes during early embryogenesis, before irreversible dosage compensation occurs. That is, does X-chromosome differentiation involve a process of X-chromosome inactivation or X-chromosome activation? Choosing between these alternatives is important for understanding a number of features of X-chromosome differentiation, including:
-
(1)
the derivation of molecular and genetic models of this process, and
-
(2)
the determination of the timing of this differentiation.
In the latter instance, activation and inactivation events may pose entirely different conditions for using biochemical variants of X-linked genes for studying the developmental timing of the event.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Adler, D. A., J. D. West and V. M. Chapman. 1977. Expression of α-galactosidase in preimplantation mouse embryos: indications for X-chromosome inactivation. Nature 267: 838–839.
Brinster, R. L. 1970. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the early rabbit and mouse embryo. Biochem. Genet. 4: 669–696.
Cassie, R. M. 1954. Some uses of probability paper in the analysis of size frequency distributions. Aust. J. Marine and Fresh Water Res. 5: 513–522.
Chapman, V. M., J. D. West and D. A. Adler. 1977. Genetics of early mammalian embryogenesis. In, Concepts in early mammalian development, M. I. Sherman, Ed. M.I.T. Press, pp. 95–126. Observer Excerpta Medica, North-Holland, Assoc. Scientific Publishers, New York.
Chapman, V. M., J. D. West and D. A. Adler. 1977. Genetics of early mammalian embryogenesis. Concepts in early mammalian development. M. I. Sherman, Ed. M.I.T. Press, pp. 95–126.
Epstein, C. J., B. Travis, G. Tucker and S. Smith. 1978. The direct demonstration of an X-chromosome dosage effect prior to inactivation. In, Genetic Mosaics and Chimeras in Mammals, Liane B. Russell, Ed. Plenum Press, New York and London.
Esworthy, R. S. personal communication.
Gardner, R. L. and M. F. Lyon. 1971. X-chromosome inactivation studied by injection of a single cell into the mouse blastocyst. Nature (Lond.) 231: 385–386.
Harding, J. P. 1949. The use of probability paper for the graphical analysis of polymodal frequency distributions. J. Marine Biol. Assoc. 28: 141–153.
Hoppe, P. C. and W. K. Whitten. 1972. Does X chromosome inactivation occur during mitosis of first cleavage. Nature (Lond.) 239: 520.
Kratzer, P. and S. M. Gartler. 1978. HGPRT expression in early mouse development. In, Genetic Mosaics and Chimeras in Mammals, Liane B. Russell, Ed. Plenum Press, New York and London.
Lyon, M. F. 1961. Gene action in the X-chromosome of the mouse (Mus musculus). Nature (Lond.) 190: 372–373.
Monk, M. 1978a. Biochemical studies on mammalian X-chromosome activity. In, Development in Mammals. Vol. 3, M. H. Johnson, Ed. North-Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam.
Monk, M. 1978b. Biochemical studies on X-chromosome activity in preimplantation mouse embryos. In, Genetic Mosaics and Chimeras in Mammals. Liane B. Russell, Ed. Plenum Press, New York and London.
Takagi, N. 1974. Differentiation of X chromosomes in early female mouse embryos. Exp. Cell Res. 86: 127.
Tarkowski, A. K. 1966. An air-drying method for chromosome preparations from mouse eggs. Cytogenetics 5: 394–400.
West, J. D., W. I. Frels, V. E. Papaioannou, J. Karr and V. M. Chapman. 1977. Development of interspecific hybrids of Mus. J. Emb. Exp. Morph. 41: 233–243.
Wudl, L. R. and V. Chapman. 1976. The expression of β-glucuronidase during preimplantation development of mouse embryos. Develop. Biol. 48: 104–109.
Wudl, L. R. and M. I. Sherman. 1976. In vitro studies of mouse embryos bearing mutations at the T locus tw5 and t12. Cell 9: 523–532.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1978 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chapman, V.M., West, J.D., Adler, D.A. (1978). Bimodal Distribution of α-Galactosidase Activities in Mouse Embryos. In: Russell, L.B. (eds) Genetic Mosaics and Chimeras in Mammals. Basic Life Sciences, vol 12. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3390-6_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3390-6_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3392-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3390-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive