Loss of p53 Causes Stochastic Aberrant X-Chromosome Inactivation and Female-Specific Neural Tube Defects

Abstract

The molecular mechanisms underlying the female bias of neural tube defects are currently unclear. Delbridge et al. present evidence that p53 is required for normal Xist expression and X chromosome inactivation and show in two models that partial failure of X chromosome inactivation is associated with female-biased neural tube defects.