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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Main Authors: Maria C. Ow, Sarah E. Hall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Epigenomes
Subjects:
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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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