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Inv Alu able junk: The cellular impact and function of Alu and B2 RNAs
Author(s) -
Walters Ryan D.,
Kugel Jennifer F.,
Goodrich James A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1002/iub.227
Subject(s) - alu element , retrotransposon , rna polymerase iii , biology , rna , genetics , gene , polymerase , genome , signal recognition particle rna , rna splicing , rna polymerase , human genome , non coding rna , transposable element
The short interspersed elements (SINEs) Alu and B2 are retrotransposons that litter the human and mouse genomes, respectively. Given their abundance, the manner in which these elements impact the host genome and what their biological functions might be is of significant interest. Finding that Alu and B2 SINEs are transcribed, both as distinct RNA polymerase III transcripts and as part of RNA polymerase II transcripts, and that these SINE encoded RNAs indeed have biological functions has refuted the historical notion that SINEs are merely “junk DNA.” This article reviews currently known cellular functions of both RNA polymerase II and RNA polymerase III transcribed Alu and B2 RNAs. These RNAs, in different forms, control gene expression by participating in processes as diverse as mRNA transcriptional control, A‐to‐I editing, nuclear retention, and alternative splicing. Future studies will likely reveal additional contributions of Alu and B2 RNAs as regulators of gene expression. © 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(8): 831–837, 2009