title: Molecular biology. Unwinding RNA silencing.
abstract: Eukaryotic cells have developed an elegant system called RNA silencing for getting rid of foreign RNAs whether they be of viral, retrotransposon, or transgene origin. In his Perspective, Baulcombe examines new findings (Wu-Scharf et al.) showing that in a green alga the gene responsible for RNA silencing encodes an RNA helicase (related to proteins in worms and other organisms) that is required for regulation of gene expression at the RNA level.
authors.affiliation: Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK. david.baulcombe@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Baulcombe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005796:Genes; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D018626:Retroelements; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D018626:Retroelements; D012313:RNA; D020365:RNA Helicases