Reactivation of the inactive X chromosome through the asymmetric precursor cell division in the embryonal carcinoma cell population

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A single-cell derived cell populations of mouse embryonic stem (ES) and embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell are not homogeneous: heterogeneous cells in phenotype and/or function are frequently appeared in these undifferentiated cell populations. However mechanistic detail of their cellular heterogeneity remains unknown. We investigated how inactive X chromosomes (Xi) are reactivated in the undifferentiated EC cell population, and found that (1) stem-cell-like precursor cells are stochastically appeared in the populations, and (2) asymmetric cell divisions of the precursor cell generates a precursor cell and a HAT resistant (= Xi-reactivated) cell. Further analysis will be needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms for the acquisition of stem-cell-like properties, including Xi-reactivation ability, during asymmetric cell divisions.