Novel Inactive-X Enriched PRotein

We have discovered that a novel protein that is enriched on the inactive X-chromosome (referred to above as Xi-FACTOR). Shown above is an extra-embryonic endoderm or XEN cell stained to detect Xist RNA and the Xi-FACTOR protein. Both accumulate on the inactive-X. The nucleus is stained blue with DAPI.

The in vivo and in vitro functional dissection of this novel component of the X-inactivation machinery remains an open project in the lab.