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Updated: May 15, 2026

RNA-Associated Chromatin DNA-DNA Interaction Method
Published on: April 30, 2026
RNA interference in the nucleus: roles for small RNAs in transcription, epigenetics and beyond
Stephane E Castel1, Robert A Martienssen
1Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York 11724, USA.
Abstract:
A growing number of functions are emerging for RNA interference (RNAi) in the nucleus, in addition to well-characterized roles in post-transcriptional gene silencing in the cytoplasm. Epigenetic modifications directed by small RNAs have been shown to cause transcriptional repression in plants, fungi and animals. Additionally, increasing evidence indicates that RNAi regulates transcription through interaction with transcriptional machinery. Nuclear small RNAs include small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and are implicated in nuclear processes such as transposon regulation, heterochromatin formation, developmental gene regulation and genome stability.
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