title: A chromosome RNAissance.
abstract: In RNA-mediated interference (RNAi), double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) target complementary mRNAs for degradation. New work demonstrates that essential chromosomal functions are mediated through RNAi protein components and short RNAs, which alter chromosome function at specific DNA loci via histone modification.
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. afdernburg@lbl.gov
authors.forename: Abby F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Dernburg
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Karpen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019457:Chromosome Breakage; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D008957:Models, Genetic; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000502:physiology; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics; D013768:Tetrahymena / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering