tRNA-derived small RNAs: New players in genome protection against retrotransposons

Sammanfattning

Previously believed to be mere random degradation products, tRNA-derived small RNAs have been lately connected to a series of functions that include, surprisingly, genome protection against retrotransposons. tRNAs have been known for a long time to be involved in the replication cycle of retroviruses, pararetroviruses and retrotransposons as primers of their reverse transcription. tRNA-derived small RNAs, as functional small RNAs or as mere tRNA degradation products, have emerged as important players in the regulation of genic transcription. Nevertheless, the involvement of functional sRNAs derived from tRNA transcripts in transposon posttranscriptional control is a regulatory layer that remained elusive until now. Here I review the recent discoveries in the field that connect tRNA-derived small RNAs and retrotransposon control.

Nyckelord

RNAi; RNA silencing; tRNAs; tRFs; tRNA halves; epigenetics; transposable elements; retrotransposons; LTR retrotransposons

Publicerad i

RNA Biology
2018, volym: 15, nummer: 2, sidor: 170-175
Utgivare: TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

SLU författare

• Martinez-Arias, Germán

  • Institutionen för växtbiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Genetik

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15476286.2017.1403000

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/93994