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Nature 447, 399-406 (24 May 2007) | doi:10.1038/nature05914; Published online 23 May 2007
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Assistant / Associate Professor
- University of South Dakota - Biomedical Engineering
- 4800 N. Career Ave., Suite 118 Sioux Falls, SD 57107
Assistant / Associate Professor
- Yale University
- New Haven, CT
Review Article Transcription and RNA interference in the formation of heterochromatin
Shiv I. S. Grewal1 & Sarah C. R. Elgin2
Abstract
Transcription in heterochromatin seems to be an oxymoron — surely the 'silenced' form of chromatin should not be transcribed. But there have been frequent reports of low-level transcription in heterochromatic regions, and several hundred genes are found in these regions in Drosophila. Most strikingly, recent investigations implicate RNA interference mechanisms in targeting and maintaining heterochromatin, and these mechanisms are inherently dependent on transcription. Silencing of chromatin might involve trans-acting sources of the crucial small RNAs that carry out RNA interference, but in some cases, transcription of the region to be silenced seems to be required — an apparent contradiction.
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Competing to destroy: a fight between two RNA-degradation systemsNature Structural & Molecular Biology News and Views (01 Oct 2008)
Heterochromatin: condense or exciseNature Cell Biology News and Views (01 Jan 2007)
