遗传 ›› 2009, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (12): 1205-1213.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1005.2009.01205

• 综述 • 上一篇    下一篇

小RNAs作用机制的研究进展

谢兆辉   

  1. 山东省德州学院生物系, 山东德州 253023
  • 收稿日期:2009-04-30 修回日期:2009-05-30 出版日期:2009-12-10 发布日期:2009-12-10
  • 通讯作者: 谢兆辉 E-mail:xiezhh0523@163.com
  • 基金资助:

    山东省自然科学基金项目(编号: Y2008D36)资助

Advances in mechanism of small RNAs

XIE Zhao-Hui   

  1. Department of Biology, Dezhou University, Dezhou, Shandong Province 253023, China
  • Received:2009-04-30 Revised:2009-05-30 Online:2009-12-10 Published:2009-12-10
  • Contact: XIE Zhao-Hui E-mail:xiezhh0523@163.com

摘要:

RNAi的发现引发了生物学的一次革命, 也揭示了一种原来未被发现的, 通过小RNAs(大小~20–30 nt)家族在转录水平或转录后水平调解基因表达的方式。在真核生物中, 这些小RNAs包括siRNAs、miRNAs、piRNAs、scnRNAs、21U-RNAs和其他一些小RNAs等。它们通过调节基因表达来控制细胞的代谢、生长和分化, 维持基因组的完整性, 协调生殖细胞的成熟和抑制病毒对细胞的侵袭以及转座成分的转座。文章综述了这些小RNAs在鉴定和生物合成方面的研究进展, 并讨论了它们对基因表达的调节作用。

关键词: 小干扰RNAs, 微小RNAs, piwi相互作用的RNAs, 扫描RNAs, 21U-RNAs

Abstract:

The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) heralded a revolution in RNA biology. Researchers uncovered ‘hidden’ layers of regulation of gene expression, in which many previously unidentified families of small RNAs (consisting of ~20–30 nucleotides) mediate gene silencing in transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In eukaryotes, these small RNAs, including siRNAs, miRNAs, piRNAs, scnRNAs, 21U-RNAs, and some others, regulate gene expression, helping to control cellular metabolism, growth, and differentiation, to maintain genome integrity, to regulate stem cell renewal, and to combat viruses and mobile genetic elements. This review summarizes the current advancement in the identification and biosynthesis of small RNAs and their roles in gene regulation.

Key words: siRNAs, miRNAs, piwiRNAs, scnRNAs, 21U-RNAs, advances