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A Role for RNAi in Heterochromatin Formation in Drosophila

  • Chapter
Book cover RNA Interference

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 320))

Abstract

Heterochromatin is a specialized form of DNA packaging that results in a transcriptionally inactive conformation. While much progress has been made in characterizing the heterochromatin structure biochemically and via its effects on genes and transgenes, very little is known about how heterochromatin formation is initiated. Recent evidence from the yeast Saccharomyces pombe suggests the involvement of the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery in heterochromatin formation, and in particular in the targeting of the heterochromatin machinery to specific sites in the genome. In this article, we review the evidence for an involvement of RNAi in heterochromatin formation in the model system Drosophila melanogaster. It appears that while there are numerous threads that connect heterochromatin formation and gene silencing with the RNAi pathways in Drosophila, a direct role for RNAi in particular in the targeting of heterochromatin formation is still lacking.

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Abbreviations

aa:

Amino acids

Adh:

Alcohol dehydrogenase

ATP:

Adenine triphosphate

ChIP:

Chromatin immunoprecipitation

dsRNA:

Double-stranded RNA

E(var):

Enhancer of variegation

H3K4:

Histone 3 lysine 4

H3K9me:

Histone 3 methylated at lysine 9

HDAC:

Histone deacetylase

HP1:

Heterochromatin protein 1

I-RNA:

Iosine-containing RNA

LTR:

Long terminal repeat

miRNA:

microRNA

MNase:

Micrococcal nuclease

mRNA:

Messenger RNA

PEV:

Position effect variegation

rasiRNA:

Repeat associated small interfering RNA

RISC:

RNA-induced silencing complex

RITS:

RNA-induced transcriptional silencing

RNAi:

RNA interference

siRNA:

Small interfering RNA

Su(var):

Suppressor of variegation

TSN:

Tudor SN

VIG:

Vasa intronic gene

ADAR:

Adenosine deaminase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Washington University, One Brookings Dr., Campus Box 1137St., Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Sarah C. R. Elgin

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  1. Nicole C. Riddle
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  2. Sarah C. R. Elgin
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Fellows Program, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11771

    Patrick J. Paddison

  2. Department of Molecular & Experimental Medicine Division of Oncovirology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, BCC-239, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA

    Peter K. Vogt

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Riddle, N.C., Elgin, S.C.R. (2008). A Role for RNAi in Heterochromatin Formation in Drosophila . In: Paddison, P.J., Vogt, P.K. (eds) RNA Interference. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 320. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-75157-1_9

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