title: Noisy silence: non-coding RNA and heterochromatin formation at repetitive elements.
abstract: A significant fraction of eukaryotic genomes comprises repetitive sequences, including rRNA genes, centromeres, telomeres, and retrotransposons. Repetitive elements are hotspots for recombination and represent a serious challenge for genome integrity. Maintaining these repeated elements in a compact heterochromatic structure suppresses recombination and unwanted mutagenic transposition, and is therefore indispensable for genomic stability. Paradoxically, repetitive elements are not transcriptionally inert, but produce RNA that has important functions in regulating and reinforcing the heterochromatic state. Here, we review the role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in recruiting chromatin-modifying enzymes to repetitive genomic loci to establish a repressive chromatin structure that safeguards chromosome integrity and genome stability.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell II; German Cancer Research Center; DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance; Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bierhoff
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell II; German Cancer Research Center; DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance; Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Postepska-Igielska
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell II; German Cancer Research Center; DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance; Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grummt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D018626:Retroelements; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006570:Heterochromatin; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D018626:Retroelements
keywords: centromeres; heterochromatin; non-coding RNA; rDNA; repetitive elements; retrotransposons; telomeres