title: A unified mode of epigenetic gene silencing: RNA meets polycomb group proteins.
abstract: Recently, an essential role for RNA in the epigenetic silencing of genes packaged within heterochromatin in animals has been recognized. The RNA appears to be involved in targeting chromatin remodeling activity to a specific locus and in later maintaining the repressed state of the gene. Epigenetic silencing of Hox cluster genes by the Polycomb group proteins also involves the formation of a stably inherited repressive chromatin structure. Recent studies of the C. elegans PcG gene sop-2 reveled an evolutionarily conserved property of PcG proteins in the binding of RNA, suggesting an important role for RNA in PcG-mediated Hox gene repression.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Yinyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012313:RNA / Q000502:physiology*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012313:RNA