Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and Mammals
While reports on the generational inheritance of a parental response to stress have been widely reported in animals, the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon have only recently emerged. The booming interest in epigenetic inheritance has been facilitated in part by the discovery that small non...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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Series: | Epigenomes |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/8/1/1 |
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author | Maria C. Ow Sarah E. Hall |
author_facet | Maria C. Ow Sarah E. Hall |
author_sort | Maria C. Ow |
collection | DOAJ |
description | While reports on the generational inheritance of a parental response to stress have been widely reported in animals, the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon have only recently emerged. The booming interest in epigenetic inheritance has been facilitated in part by the discovery that small non-coding RNAs are one of its principal conduits. Discovered 30 years ago in the <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> nematode, these small molecules have since cemented their critical roles in regulating virtually all aspects of eukaryotic development. Here, we provide an overview on the current understanding of epigenetic inheritance in animals, including mice and <i>C. elegans</i>, as it pertains to stresses such as temperature, nutritional, and pathogenic encounters. We focus on <i>C. elegans</i> to address the mechanistic complexity of how small RNAs target their cohort mRNAs to effect gene expression and how they govern the propagation or termination of generational perdurance in epigenetic inheritance. Presently, while a great amount has been learned regarding the heritability of gene expression states, many more questions remain unanswered and warrant further investigation. |
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institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2075-4655 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:18:14Z |
publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Epigenomes |
spelling | doaj.art-92534c4d0a58443eaad59d4dd6a300cd2024-03-27T13:37:50ZengMDPI AGEpigenomes2075-46552023-12-0181110.3390/epigenomes8010001Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and MammalsMaria C. Ow0Sarah E. Hall1Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USADepartment of Biology and Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USAWhile reports on the generational inheritance of a parental response to stress have been widely reported in animals, the molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon have only recently emerged. The booming interest in epigenetic inheritance has been facilitated in part by the discovery that small non-coding RNAs are one of its principal conduits. Discovered 30 years ago in the <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> nematode, these small molecules have since cemented their critical roles in regulating virtually all aspects of eukaryotic development. Here, we provide an overview on the current understanding of epigenetic inheritance in animals, including mice and <i>C. elegans</i>, as it pertains to stresses such as temperature, nutritional, and pathogenic encounters. We focus on <i>C. elegans</i> to address the mechanistic complexity of how small RNAs target their cohort mRNAs to effect gene expression and how they govern the propagation or termination of generational perdurance in epigenetic inheritance. Presently, while a great amount has been learned regarding the heritability of gene expression states, many more questions remain unanswered and warrant further investigation.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/8/1/1small non-coding RNAsiRNAmiRNApiRNAtRFtransgenerational inheritance |
spellingShingle | Maria C. Ow Sarah E. Hall Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and Mammals Epigenomes small non-coding RNA siRNA miRNA piRNA tRF transgenerational inheritance |
title | Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and Mammals |
title_full | Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and Mammals |
title_fullStr | Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and Mammals |
title_full_unstemmed | Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and Mammals |
title_short | Inheritance of Stress Responses via Small Non-Coding RNAs in Invertebrates and Mammals |
title_sort | inheritance of stress responses via small non coding rnas in invertebrates and mammals |
topic | small non-coding RNA siRNA miRNA piRNA tRF transgenerational inheritance |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/8/1/1 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT mariacow inheritanceofstressresponsesviasmallnoncodingrnasininvertebratesandmammals AT sarahehall inheritanceofstressresponsesviasmallnoncodingrnasininvertebratesandmammals |