Abstract
Small RNAs play important roles in the establishment and maintenance of heterochromatin structures. We show the presence of telomere specific small RNAs (tel-sRNAs) in mouse embryonic stem cells that are approximately 24 nucleotides in length, Dicer-independent, and 2'-O-methylated at the 3' terminus. The tel-sRNAs are asymmetric with specificity toward telomere G-rich strand, and evolutionarily conserved from protozoan to mammalian cells. Furthermore, tel-sRNAs are up-regulated in cells that carry null mutation of H3K4 methyltransferase MLL (Mll((-/-))) and down-regulated in cells that carry null mutations of histone H3K9 methyltransferase SUV39H (Suv39h1/h2((-/-))), suggesting that they are subject to epigenetic regulation. These results support that tel-sRNAs are heterochromatin associated pi-like small RNAs.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Blotting, Northern
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Cells, Cultured
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Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
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DEAD-box RNA Helicases / physiology*
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DNA Methylation
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Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
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Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
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Endoribonucleases / physiology*
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Fibroblasts / cytology
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Fibroblasts / metabolism
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Heterochromatin / metabolism*
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Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / physiology
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Histones / metabolism
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Methyltransferases / physiology
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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MicroRNAs / genetics*
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MicroRNAs / metabolism
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Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / physiology
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RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology*
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Repressor Proteins / physiology
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Ribonuclease III
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Telomere / physiology*
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Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
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Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 / genetics
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Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 / metabolism
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Tetrahymena / physiology*
Substances
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Heterochromatin
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Histones
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MicroRNAs
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RNA, Small Interfering
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Repressor Proteins
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Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1
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Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
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Suv39h1 protein, mouse
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Methyltransferases
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Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
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Kmt2a protein, mouse
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Endoribonucleases
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Dicer1 protein, mouse
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Ribonuclease III
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DEAD-box RNA Helicases