Imprinted small RNA genes.
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon that results in differential expression of both alleles, depending on their parent of origin. We have recently identified many imprinted small non-coding RNA genes belonging to the C/D RNA and microRNA gene families, both of which are usually known to play key roles in post-transcriptional metabolism of specific genes (e.g. C/D RNAs guide ribose methylation of target RNAs while microRNAs elicit either translational repression or RNA interference). Although the functional and evolutionary significance of this association between C/D RNA genes, microRNA genes and genomic imprinting is still highly elusive, these observations provide a framework for further analysis of the potential role of small non-coding RNAs in epigenetic control.
Seitz
Hervé
H
Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire des Eucaryotes du CNRS, Institut d'Exploration Fonctionnelle des Génomes, 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.
Royo
Hélène
H
Lin
Shau-Ping
SP
Youngson
Neil
N
Ferguson-Smith
Anne C
AC
Cavaillé
Jérôme
J
D000818:Animals; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering