Common ground: small RNA programming and chromatin modifications

• Published in: Current opinion in cell biology Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 258 - 265
• Main Authors: Lejeune, Erwan, Allshire, Robin C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2011
• Subjects: Animals; Chromatin - metabolism; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; Epigenesis, Genetic; Humans; Internal Medicine; Metazoa; RNA Interference; RNA, Fungal - genetics; RNA, Fungal - metabolism; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism; Schizosaccharomyces - chemistry; Schizosaccharomyces - genetics; Schizosaccharomyces - metabolism; Schizosaccharomyces pombe; Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins - genetics; Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins - metabolism; Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins - physiology
• ISSN: 0955-0674; 1879-0410
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2011.03.005

Epigenetic mechanisms regulate genome structure and expression profiles in eukaryotes. RNA interference (RNAi) and other small RNA-based chromatin-modifying activities can act to reset the epigenetic landscape at defined chromatin domains. Centromeric heterochromatin assembly is a RNAi-dependent process in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe , and provides a paradigm for detailed examination of such epigenetic processes. Here we review recent progress in understanding the mechanisms that underpin RNAi-mediated heterochromatin formation in S. pombe . We discuss recent analyses of the events that trigger RNAi and manipulations which uncouple RNAi and chromatin modification. Finally we provide an overview of similar molecular machineries across species where related small RNA pathways appear to drive the epigenetic reprogramming in germ cells and/or during early development in metazoans.