Endogenous RNA interference is driven by copy number
A plethora of non-protein coding RNAs are produced throughout eukaryotic genomes, many of which are transcribed antisense to protein-coding genes and could potentially instigate RNA interference (RNAi) responses. Here we have used a synthetic RNAi system to show that gene copy number is a key factor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2014-02-01
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| Series: | eLife |
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| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/01581 |
| _version_ | 1818028332210454528 |
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| author | Cristina Cruz Jonathan Houseley |
| author_facet | Cristina Cruz Jonathan Houseley |
| author_sort | Cristina Cruz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A plethora of non-protein coding RNAs are produced throughout eukaryotic genomes, many of which are transcribed antisense to protein-coding genes and could potentially instigate RNA interference (RNAi) responses. Here we have used a synthetic RNAi system to show that gene copy number is a key factor controlling RNAi for transcripts from endogenous loci, since transcripts from multi-copy loci form double stranded RNA more efficiently than transcripts from equivalently expressed single-copy loci. Selectivity towards transcripts from high-copy DNA is therefore an emergent property of a minimal RNAi system. The ability of RNAi to selectively degrade transcripts from high-copy loci would allow suppression of newly emerging transposable elements, but such a surveillance system requires transcription. We show that low-level genome-wide pervasive transcription is sufficient to instigate RNAi, and propose that pervasive transcription is part of a defense mechanism capable of directing a sequence-independent RNAi response against transposable elements amplifying within the genome. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:02:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a0894ffa04f745e38da0f0c038e00917 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:02:06Z |
| publishDate | 2014-02-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-a0894ffa04f745e38da0f0c038e009172022-12-22T02:01:23ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2014-02-01310.7554/eLife.01581Endogenous RNA interference is driven by copy numberCristina Cruz0Jonathan Houseley1Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United KingdomEpigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United KingdomA plethora of non-protein coding RNAs are produced throughout eukaryotic genomes, many of which are transcribed antisense to protein-coding genes and could potentially instigate RNA interference (RNAi) responses. Here we have used a synthetic RNAi system to show that gene copy number is a key factor controlling RNAi for transcripts from endogenous loci, since transcripts from multi-copy loci form double stranded RNA more efficiently than transcripts from equivalently expressed single-copy loci. Selectivity towards transcripts from high-copy DNA is therefore an emergent property of a minimal RNAi system. The ability of RNAi to selectively degrade transcripts from high-copy loci would allow suppression of newly emerging transposable elements, but such a surveillance system requires transcription. We show that low-level genome-wide pervasive transcription is sufficient to instigate RNAi, and propose that pervasive transcription is part of a defense mechanism capable of directing a sequence-independent RNAi response against transposable elements amplifying within the genome.https://elifesciences.org/articles/01581RNA interferencenon-coding RNApervasive transcriptioncopy number |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Cruz Jonathan Houseley Endogenous RNA interference is driven by copy number eLife RNA interference non-coding RNA pervasive transcription copy number |
| title | Endogenous RNA interference is driven by copy number |
| title_full | Endogenous RNA interference is driven by copy number |
| title_fullStr | Endogenous RNA interference is driven by copy number |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endogenous RNA interference is driven by copy number |
| title_short | Endogenous RNA interference is driven by copy number |
| title_sort | endogenous rna interference is driven by copy number |
| topic | RNA interference non-coding RNA pervasive transcription copy number |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/01581 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cristinacruz endogenousrnainterferenceisdrivenbycopynumber AT jonathanhouseley endogenousrnainterferenceisdrivenbycopynumber |