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In vivo Application of the REMOTE-control System for the Manipulation of Endogenous Gene Expression
Published on: March 29, 2019
Antisense transcription in the mammalian transcriptome.
S Katayama1, Y Tomaru, T Kasukawa
1Laboratory for Genome Exploration Research Group, RIKEN Genomic Sciences Centre (GSC), RIKEN Yokohama Institute, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 6, 2005
Summary
Antisense transcription, the process of creating RNA from the opposite DNA strand, plays a significant role in regulating gene expression. This study demonstrates that altering antisense RNA levels impacts sense messenger RNA expression in mammals.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Gene Regulation
Background:
- Antisense transcription, originating from the DNA strand opposite to protein-coding genes, is implicated in gene regulation.
- Known roles include RNA interference-mediated transcript degradation and chromatin-level gene silencing.
- Global transcriptome analyses suggest widespread bidirectional transcription across the genome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional significance of antisense transcription in mammalian gene regulation.
- To explore the relationship between sense and antisense transcript expression.
- To provide experimental evidence for the regulatory role of antisense RNAs.
Main Methods:
- Global transcriptome analysis to identify and quantify transcripts from both DNA strands.
- Expression profiling to analyze sense/antisense transcript pairs.
- Experimental perturbation of antisense RNA levels to observe effects on sense messenger RNA expression.
Main Results:
- A substantial portion of the genome exhibits bidirectional transcription, producing both sense and antisense transcripts.
- Antisense transcripts frequently link neighboring genes into coordinated transcriptional units.
- Concordant regulation of sense/antisense transcript pairs is commonly observed.
- Perturbation of antisense RNA levels demonstrably altered sense messenger RNA expression.
Conclusions:
- Antisense transcription is a widespread genomic phenomenon in mammals.
- Antisense transcripts contribute to the coordinated regulation of gene expression.
- Antisense transcription represents a significant mechanism for controlling transcriptional output.
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