Cited by 135Epigenetics and DNA MethylationRNA Interference and Gene DeliveryChromosomal and Genetic Variations

Common themes in siRNA-mediated epigenetic silencing pathways

Verdel, Andre, Vavasseur, Aurelia, Le Gorrec, Madalen, Touat-Todeschini, Leila·2009·The International Journal of Developmental Biology

Abstract

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) act through RNA interference (RNAi) pathways to silence gene expression either at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. Here, we review mechanisms and functions of siRNA-mediated silencing pathways that promote chromatin modifications in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, plants and animals. In fission yeast, siRNAs are involved in heterochromatin formation and key aspects of the underlying siRNA-dependent pathway have been uncovered. Two RNAi complexes, the RNA-Induced Transcriptional Silencing complex (RITS), which contains a siRNA bound to an Argonaute protein, and the RNA-Directed RNA polymerase Complex (RDRC) are critical components of the pathway. In addition, this pathway implicates non-coding nascent transcripts synthesized by RNA polymerase II (RNApII) and the RNApII itself. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway appears to share a similar set of proteins and enzymatic activities, suggesting that, beyond certain aspects that are specific to each pathway, part of the siRNA-mediated epigenetic silencing mechanisms are conserved between fission yeast and plants. Moreover, in both organisms the pathways target repetitive DNA sequences. This conservation of mechanisms and genomic targets might actually extend to animals as recent investigations revealed the existence of endogenous siRNA-based pathways directed against repetitive DNA sequences in flies and mammals.

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Crossref · 10.1387/ijdb.082691av

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  • siRNA mediates nuclear and cytoplasmic silencing pathways by triggering a permanent, potentially heritable mark in the gene, silencing it epigenetically.

    “siRNA mediates in nuclear and cytoplasmic silencing pathways by triggering a permanent mark, which is potentially heritable in the gene, by silencing it in an epigenetic manner [71].”

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Authors
Verdel, A., Vavasseur, A., Le Gorrec, M., & Touat-Todeschini, L.
Venue
The International Journal of Developmental Biology
Publisher
EHU Press
Published
2009
Volume
53
Issue
2-3
Pages
245-257
ISSN
0214-6282 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2142615391
Cited by
135
References
110
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 17
FWCI
9.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The International Journal of Developmental Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
Keywords
siRNA, RNA interference, epigenetic silencing, chromatin modification, heterochromatin formation, Argonaute proteins, RNA-directed DNA methylation, Arabidopsis thaliana, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, RNA polymerase II, nascent RNA, repetitive DNA, transposon silencing, evolutionary conservation
MeSH terms
Animals, Chromatin, Models, Biological, Plant Proteins, Signal Transduction, Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins, Drosophila Proteins, RNA Interference, RNA, Small Interfering, RNA-Induced Silencing Complex

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