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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
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Cell Based Assays of SINEUP Non-coding RNAs That Can Specifically Enhance mRNA Translation
Published on: February 1, 2019
Genomic gems: SINE RNAs regulate mRNA production
Steven L Ponicsan1, Jennifer F Kugel, James A Goodrich
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, 80309-0215, USA.
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|February 24, 2010
Summary
Short interspersed elements (SINEs) are not junk DNA. RNAs from SINEs regulate mRNA production, gene transcription, and protein diversity, revealing their crucial roles in cellular processes and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Short interspersed elements (SINEs) were historically considered non-functional "junk DNA".
- Recent studies reveal that RNAs transcribed from SINEs, such as mouse B2 and human Alu elements, play regulatory roles.
- These SINE-derived RNAs impact messenger RNA (mRNA) production through various mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the multifaceted roles of SINE-derived RNAs in gene regulation and cellular function.
- To highlight the functional significance of SINEs beyond their repetitive nature.
- To explore the impact of SINE RNAs on mRNA production, transcription, and proteome diversity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) interactions with SINE RNAs under cellular stress.
- Investigating the role of bi-directional B2 SINE transcription in chromatin state regulation.
- Examining the mechanism of exonization of Alu RNAs via alternative splicing.
Main Results:
- B2 and Alu RNAs bind to Pol II, repressing transcription of specific protein-encoding genes during cellular stress.
- Bi-directional transcription of B2 SINEs creates boundaries, facilitating a permissive chromatin state for the growth hormone locus during mouse development.
- Alu RNAs integrated into Pol II transcripts contribute to evolutionary processes and proteome diversity through alternative splicing-mediated exonization.
Conclusions:
- SINEs are not junk DNA but contain functional elements (gems) with significant biological roles.
- SINE-derived RNAs are key regulators of gene expression, impacting transcription, chromatin structure, and protein evolution.
- Understanding SINE RNA functions provides new insights into genome regulation, development, and evolution.
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