title: RNA silencing: Mechanism, biology and responses to environmental stress.
abstract: Much early work on environmental stress, including ionizing radiation and environmental toxins, emphasised their action on DNA and subsequent mutagenesis in long term effects including germ cell mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and trans-generational effect. However, recent studies are increasingly pointing a complementary role of epigenetic effects in these processes. While a substantial part of the literature focuses on DNA methylation, there is increasing recognition of the role of non-coding RNAs, including small-, micro-, and pi-RNAs, as well as transposable elements. These play key roles in carcinogenesis, and in germ cell changes including trans-generational effects.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Nutrition, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lynnette R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism; D016296:Mutagenesis; D034622:RNA Interference; D011827:Radiation; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D035683:MicroRNAs