RNAa in action: From the exception to the norm

Small RNA programmed Argonautes are sophisticated cellular effector platforms known to be involved in a diverse array of functions ranging from mRNA cleavage, translational inhibition, DNA elimination, epigenetic silencing, alternative splicing and even gene activation. First observed in human cells...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:RNA biology 2014-10, Vol.11 (10), p.1221-1225
Main Authors: Guo, Dan, Barry, Liam, Lin, Sharon Szu Hua, Huang, Vera, Li, Long-Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Argonaute
Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans - growth & development
Caenorhabditis elegans - metabolism
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics
Epigenesis, Genetic
epigenetic memory
gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation
Humans
MicroRNAs - genetics
Points-of-View
RNA, Helminth - genetics
RNA, Messenger - genetics
RNA, Small Interfering - genetics
RNAa
RNAe
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Summary:Small RNA programmed Argonautes are sophisticated cellular effector platforms known to be involved in a diverse array of functions ranging from mRNA cleavage, translational inhibition, DNA elimination, epigenetic silencing, alternative splicing and even gene activation. First observed in human cells, small RNA-induced gene activation, also known as RNAa, involves the targeted recruitment of Argonaute proteins to specific promoter sequences followed by induction of stable epigenetic changes which promote transcription. The existence of RNAa remains contentious due to its elusive mechanism. A string of recent studies in C. elegans provides unequivocal evidence for RNAa's fundamental role in sculpting the epigenetic landscape and maintaining active transcription of endogenous genes and supports the presence of a functionally sophisticated network of small RNA-Argonaute pathways consisting of opposite yet complementary "yin and yang" regulatory elements. In this review, we summarize key findings from recent studies of endogenous RNAa in C. elegans, with an emphasis on the Argonaute protein CSR-1.
ISSN:1547-6286
1555-8584
DOI:10.4161/15476286.2014.972853