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Related Concept Videos

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

LTR retrotransposons are class I transposable elements with long terminal repeats flanking an internal coding region. These elements are less abundant in mammals compared to other class I transposable elements. About 8 percent of human genomic DNA comprises LTR retrotransposons. Some of the common examples of LTR retrotransposons are Ty elements in yeast and Copia elements in Drosophila.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Cell Based Assays of SINEUP Non-coding RNAs That Can Specifically Enhance mRNA Translation
10:21

Cell Based Assays of SINEUP Non-coding RNAs That Can Specifically Enhance mRNA Translation

Published on: February 1, 2019

RNA interference: endogenous siRNAs derived from transposable elements.

Darren J Obbard1, David J Finnegan

  • 1Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK.

Current Biology : CB
|July 9, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A novel class of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) has been discovered in Drosophila somatic tissues. These siRNAs may function similarly to Piwi-interacting RNAs in suppressing transposable elements within the soma.

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Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
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Cell Based Assays of SINEUP Non-coding RNAs That Can Specifically Enhance mRNA Translation
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Real-Time Quantification of the Effects of IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB on Transposon Activity
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Published on: January 20, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • RNA Interference

Background:

  • The Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is crucial for silencing transposable elements in the Drosophila germline.
  • Transposable elements pose a threat to genome stability by potentially disrupting gene function.

Discussion:

  • Deep sequencing of small RNAs from somatic tissues and cell cultures revealed a new category of endogenous siRNAs.
  • These newly identified siRNAs share sequence characteristics with known transposable element suppressors.

Key Insights:

  • Discovery of a novel siRNA class in Drosophila soma.
  • Potential role of these siRNAs in somatic transposable element suppression.
  • Expansion of understanding RNA interference mechanisms beyond the germline.

Outlook:

  • Further investigation into the biogenesis and function of these novel somatic siRNAs.
  • Exploring the therapeutic potential of targeting these pathways for genome stability.
  • Comparative analysis with piRNA pathways in other organisms.