Chd8 regulates X chromosome inactivation in mouse through fine-tuning control of Xist expression

Andrea Cerase et al. report that the chromatin remodeler Chd8 is a key regulator of mammalian Xist expression and therefore X chromosome inactivation. They find that Chd8 activates Xist expression in embryonic stem cells, while in differentiating cells it acts to prevent spurious Xist expression through blocking transcription factor binding to the Xist promoter.