Chromosome fusions triggered by noncoding RNA.
RNA Biol
; 14(5): 620-631, 2017 05 04.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27267579
ABSTRACT
Chromosomal fusions are common in normal and cancer cells and can produce aberrant gene products that promote transformation. The mechanisms driving these fusions are poorly understood, but recurrent fusions are widespread. This suggests an underlying mechanism, and some authors have proposed a possible role for RNA in this process. The unicellular eukaryote Oxytricha trifallax displays an exorbitant capacity for natural genome editing, when it rewrites its germline genome to form a somatic epigenome. This developmental process provides a powerful model system to directly test the influence of small noncoding RNAs on chromosome fusion events during somatic differentiation. Here we show that small RNAs are capable of inducing chromosome fusions in 4 distinct cases (out of 4 tested), including one fusion of 3 chromosomes. We further show that these RNA-mediated chromosome fusions are heritable over multiple sexual generations and that transmission of the acquired fusion is associated with endogenous production of novel piRNA molecules that target the fused junction. We also demonstrate the capacity of a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) to induce chromosome fusion of 2 distal germline loci. These results underscore the ability of short-lived, aberrant RNAs to act as drivers of chromosome fusion events that can be stably transmitted to future generations.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Rearranjo Gênico
/
Cromossomos
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Oxytricha
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Genoma de Protozoário
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RNA não Traduzido
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
RNA Biol
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos