What are natural antisense transcripts good for?

Biochem Soc Trans. 2010 Aug;38(4):1144-9. doi: 10.1042/BST0381144.

Abstract

NATs (natural antisense transcripts) are important regulators of eukaryotic gene expression. Interference between the expression of protein-coding sense transcripts and the corresponding NAT is well documented. In the present review, we focus on an additional, higher-order role of NATs that is currently emerging. The recent discovery of endogenous siRNAs (short interfering RNAs), as well as NAT-induced transcriptional gene silencing, are key to the proposed novel function of NATs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Genome / physiology
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA Interference / physiology*
  • RNA, Antisense / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic / physiology

Substances

  • RNA, Antisense
  • RNA, Messenger