On the dynamics of activation of mammalian X chromosomes

Mukunda, N and Chandra, Sharat H and Gadgil, Madhav and Rajagopal, AK and Sudarshan, ECG (1976) On the dynamics of activation of mammalian X chromosomes. In: Genetical Research, 28 (2). pp. 147-162.

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Abstract

We have investigated a mathematical model of the process of activation of the X chromosomes in eutherian mammals. The model assumes that the activation is brought about over some definite time interval T by the complete saturation of N receptor sites on an X chromosome by M activating molecules (or multiples of M). The probability λ of a first hit on the receptor site is considered to be very much lower than that of subsequent hits; that is, we assume strong co-operative binding. Assuming further that an incomplete saturation of receptor sites is malfunctional, we can show that for proper activation of X chromosomes in normal diploid males and females, we must have λMT ≥ 3 and 0·96 ≤ N/M ≤ 1. An extension of this analysis for the triploid cases shows that under these conditions, we cannot explain the activation of two X's if the number of activating molecules is fixed at M. This suggests that there must be two classes of triploid embryos differing from each other in a step-wise manner in the number of activating molecules. In other words, triploids with two active X chromosomes would require 2M activating molecules as opposed to M molecules in triploids with a single active X. This interpretation of the two classes of triploids would be consistent with differing imprinting histories of the parental contributions to the triploid zygote.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Genetical Research
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Cambridge University Press.
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Microbiology & Cell Biology Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Centre for Theoretical Studies (Ceased to exist at the end of 2003)
Date Deposited:	19 Aug 2011 12:00
Last Modified:	19 Aug 2011 12:00
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/39827

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