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Significance Polycomb repressor proteins are recruited to the inactive X chromosome in mammals, and this has been attributed to a biochemical interaction between the non–protein-coding RNA X-inactive specific transcript (Xist), which initiates the X inactivation process, and core polycomb subunits. We have studied this using a combination of genome mapping analysis and 3D structured illumination microscopy (3D-SIM) that allows 3D imaging with eightfold volumetric resolution improvement compared with previous state-of-the-art confocal microscopy. Our findings reveal that Xist-mediated recruitment of polycomb repressors does not correlate well with gene silencing and, moreover, that using 3D-SIM, polycomb proteins and Xist RNA show significant spatial separation. These observations challenge prevailing models and prompt a reappraisal of the role of Xist RNA in polycomb recruitment.

Original publication

DOI

10.1073/pnas.1312951111

Type

Journal article

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Publisher

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Publication Date

11/02/2014

Volume

111

Pages

2235 - 2240