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Intergenic transcripts originating from a subclass of ribosomal DNA repeats silence ribosomal RNA genes in trans
Author(s) -
Santoro Raffaella,
Schmitz KerstinMaike,
Sandoval Juan,
Grummt Ingrid
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1038/embor.2009.254
Subject(s) - biology , genetics , ribosomal rna , rna polymerase i , ribosomal dna , intergenic region , spacer dna , dna methylation , gene , rna , microbiology and biotechnology , rna polymerase , internal transcribed spacer , genome , phylogenetics , gene expression
Epigenetic silencing of a fraction of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) requires association of the nucleolar chromatin‐remodelling complex NoRC to 150–250 nucleotide RNAs (pRNA) that originate from an RNA polymerase I promoter located in the intergenic spacer separating rDNA repeats. Here, we show that NoRC‐associated pRNA is transcribed from a sub‐fraction of hypomethylated rRNA genes during mid S phase, acting in trans to inherit DNA methylation and transcriptional repression of late‐replicating silent rDNA copies. The results reveal variability between individual rDNA clusters with distinct functional consequences.