Spreading the silence

Dev Cell. 2009 May;16(5):630-2. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2009.05.002.

Abstract

RITS (RNA-induced initiation of transcriptional gene silencing complex) plays diverse roles in heterochromatin regulation: silencing transcription by recruitment of chromatin modifiers and destroying transcripts by RNAi. In a recent issue of Molecular Cell, Li et al. now show that the polymerization of Tas3, a component of RITS, contributes to the spreading of silencing mediated by RITS.

MeSH terms

  • Centromere
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Heterochromatin / metabolism
  • RNA Interference*
  • Schizosaccharomyces / genetics*
  • Schizosaccharomyces / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Heterochromatin