title: Small RNA in the nucleus: the RNA-chromatin ping-pong.
abstract: Eukaryotes use several classes of small RNA molecules to guide diverse protein machineries to target messenger RNA. The role of small RNA in post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA stability and translation is now well established. Small RNAs can also guide sequence-specific modification of chromatin structure and thus contribute to establishment and maintenance of distinct chromatin domains. In this review we summarize the model for the inter-dependent interaction between small RNA and chromatin that has emerged from studies on fission yeast and plants. We focus on recent results that link a distinct class of small RNAs, the piRNAs, to chromatin regulation in animals.
authors.affiliation: California Institute of Technology, Division of Biology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olovnikov
authors.forename: Alexei A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aravin
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fejes Toth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering