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An endogenous small interfering RNA (endo-siRNA) pathway had only previously been characterized in worms. The recent discovery of diverse intramolecular and intermolecular substrates that generate endo-siRNAs in flies and mice raise many questions regarding the biogenesis and function of small regulatory RNAs in animals.
Membrane nanotubes are thin extensions of the plasma membrane that connect cells transiently and might facilitate intercellular communication. Recent studies have revealed considerable heterogeneity in their structure, formation, mode of cargo transport and functional properties, depending on the cell types involved.
