title: Trans-Reactivation: A New Epigenetic Phenomenon Underlying Transcriptional Reactivation of Silenced Genes.
abstract: In order to study the role played by cellular RNA pools produced by homologous genomic loci in defining the transcriptional state of a silenced gene, we tested the effect of non-functional alleles of the white gene in the presence of a functional copy of white, silenced by heterochromatin. We found that non-functional alleles of white, unable to produce a coding transcript, could reactivate in trans the expression of a wild type copy of the same gene silenced by heterochromatin. This new epigenetic phenomenon of transcriptional trans-reactivation is heritable, relies on the presence of homologous RNA's and is affected by mutations in genes involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing. Our data suggest a general new unexpected level of gene expression control mediated by homologous RNA molecules in the context of heterochromatic genes.
authors: Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Onorati
authors: Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Arancio
authors: Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento STEBICEF-Sezione Biologia Cellulare, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Cavalieri
authors: Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Antonia M R
authors: AM
authors: Ingrassia
authors: Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy.
authors: Giulio
authors: G
authors: Pavesi
authors: Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Palermo, Italy; Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento STEBICEF-Sezione Biologia Cellulare, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Davide F V
authors: DF
authors: Corona
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D054910:Compound Eye, Arthropod / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005127:Eye Color / Q000235:genetics; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D034622:RNA Interference; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; C059254:w protein, Drosophila