RNA silencing: the genome's immune system.
Genomes are databases sensitive to invasion by viruses. In recent years, a defense mechanism has been discovered, which turns out to be conserved among eukaryotes. The system can be compared to the immune system in several ways: It has specificity against foreign elements and the ability to amplify and raise a massive response against an invading nucleic acid. The latter property is beginning to be understood at the molecular level.
Plasterk
Ronald H A
RH
Hubrecht Laboratory, Centre for Biomedical Genetics, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands. Plasterk@niob.knaw.nl
D000818:Animals; D020029:Base Pairing; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000378:metabolism*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; D004722:Endoribonucleases; D043244:Ribonuclease III