MicroRNAs guide asymmetric DNA modifications guiding asymmetric organs.
In plants and animals, microRNAs have been shown to regulate target genes by inhibiting translation or altering target mRNA stability. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Bao et al. extend the known mechanisms of action of microRNAs to RNA-directed DNA methylation, a mechanism previously associated only with siRNA-mediated gene silencing.
Eshed
Yuval
Y
Department of Plant Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Bowman
John L
JL
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D019175:DNA Methylation; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D005091:Exons; D020868:Gene Silencing; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D013447:Sulfites / Q000633:toxicity; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D018744:DNA, Plant; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; D013447:Sulfites