Genomic imprinting and Turner syndrome

Abstract

The term 'genomic imprinting' refers to selective repression of transcription from distinct chromosomal regions determined by their maternal or paternal inheritance. There are two potentially important aspects of imprinting that may manifest in individuals with X monosomy, or Turner syndrome (TS). Given that men are monosomic for Xm while women are mosaic for Xm:Xp, genomic imprinting of important X-linked genes should be associated with sexually dimorphic traits, e.g., social skills, regional fat deposition and adult height. Such X-imprinted traits are predicted to differ in Turner groups monosomic for Xm vs. Xp. We review relevant studies of psychosocial attributes, regional fat distribution and height in TS related to parent of origin for the single normal X chromosome. In addition, we review recent evidence that monosomy for the X chromosome per se, regardless of the parental origin, may disrupt the normal distribution of autosomal imprint patterns. This may contribute to a high rate of fetal loss in human monosomy via impaired placentation in the most severe cases, and to loss of paternal contribution to growth in the mildest manifestation.