title: Exploring new models of easiRNA biogenesis.
abstract: Although silent transposons in plants can be reactivated by stress or during development, their potential deleterious effects are prevented by transposon-derived epigenetically activated small interfering RNAs (easiRNAs). A new study shows how serendipitous interactions between reactivated transposons and endogenous microRNAs might initiate easiRNA biogenesis, establishing an unexpected link between these two classes of silencing small RNAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarazin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Voinnet
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D018626:Retroelements / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D018626:Retroelements