RNA interference has a role in regulating Drosophila telomeres.
Unlike many other organisms, Drosophila maintains its telomeres by the transposition of retrotransposons to chromosome ends. Recent work shows that proteins in the RNA interference pathway specifically regulate the expression of these retrotransposons and frequency of transposition in germline cells, but do not affect retrotransposon expression or telomere function in the soma.
Casacuberta
Elena
E
ICREA, IBMB-CSIC, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Josep Samitier 1-5, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
Pardue
Mary-Lou
ML
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D034622:RNA Interference; D018626:Retroelements; D016615:Telomere / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018626:Retroelements