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When junk DNA turns functional: transposon-derived non-coding RNAs in plants.
Federico D Ariel1, Pablo A Manavella1
1Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
Journal of Experimental Botany
|February 19, 2021
Summary
Transposable elements (TEs) generate functional non-coding RNAs. These TE-derived RNAs regulate gene activity and influence plant development and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Transposable elements (TEs) are key drivers of eukaryotic genome complexity and evolution.
- TE mobilization impacts genome stability and can alter gene regulation through epigenomic changes or altered regulatory element positioning.
- Recent research highlights TEs as significant sources of functional non-coding RNAs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of functional long and small non-coding RNAs derived from transposable elements.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which these TE-derived RNAs regulate gene expression.
- To discuss the roles of TE-derived non-coding RNAs in plant development and evolution.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on transposable elements and non-coding RNAs in plants.
- Analysis of mechanisms for transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation by TE-derived RNAs.
- Synthesis of evidence linking TE-derived RNAs to plant development and evolutionary processes.
Main Results:
- Transposable elements generate a variety of functional small and long non-coding RNAs.
- TE-derived small RNAs regulate gene activity at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
- TE-derived long non-coding RNAs modulate gene expression via interactions with proteins, sequestration of small RNAs, and DNA/RNA duplex formation.
Conclusions:
- TE-derived non-coding RNAs are crucial regulators of gene expression in plants.
- These RNAs play significant roles in plant development and evolutionary adaptation.
- Further research into TE-derived non-coding RNAs will deepen our understanding of genome dynamics.
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