title: Imprinted small RNA genes.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire des Eucaryotes du CNRS, Institut d'Exploration Fonctionnelle des Génomes, 118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Royo
authors.forename: Shau-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Youngson
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ferguson-Smith
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cavaillé
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering