The function of non-coding RNAs in genomic imprinting.
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that regulate gene expression in cis or in trans are a shared feature of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. In mammals, cis-acting functions are associated with macro ncRNAs, which can be several hundred thousand nucleotides long. Imprinted ncRNAs are well-studied macro ncRNAs that have cis-regulatory effects on multiple flanking genes. Recent advances indicate that they employ different downstream mechanisms to regulate gene expression in embryonic and placental tissues. A better understanding of these downstream mechanisms will help to improve our general understanding of the function of ncRNAs throughout the genome.
Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Dr Bohr-Gasse 9/4, Vienna Biocenter, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
Martha V
MV
Koerner
Florian M
FM
Pauler
Ru
R
Huang
Denise P
DP
Barlow
D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000502:physiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018392:Genomic Imprinting / Q000502:physiology*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000502:physiology*
D006657:Histones; D022661:RNA, Untranslated