Role of short RNAs in gene silencing

Trends Plant Sci. 2001 Jul;6(7):297-301. doi: 10.1016/s1360-1385(01)01989-6.

Abstract

Recent research has revealed the existence of an elegant defence mechanism in plants and lower eukaryotes. The mechanism, known in plants as post-transcriptional gene silencing, works through sequence-specific degradation of RNA. It appears to be directed by double-stranded RNA, associated with the production of short 21-25 nt RNAs, and spread through the plant by a diffusible signal. The short RNAs are implicated as the guides for both a nuclease complex that degrades the mRNA and a methyltransferase complex that methylates the DNA of silenced genes. It has also been suggested that these short RNAs might be the mobile silencing signal, a suggestion that has been challenged recently.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / genetics
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA, Plant / genetics
  • Gene Silencing / physiology*
  • Genes, Plant
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Plant Proteins
  • Plant Viruses / genetics
  • Plants / genetics*
  • Plants / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Plant
  • Plant Proteins
  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA, Plant
  • Viral Proteins
  • Methyltransferases
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • HC-Pro protein, potyvirus