An International Group of Scientists Discovers Gene Control Mechanisms in Mammals
A group of international scientists has conducted extensive research on the human genome, uncovering how genes are regulated in mammals and the smallest known genetic components.
Their findings were published in three articles in the journal Nature Genetics.
This research is a collaboration between the RIKEN Yokohama Omics Science Center in Japan, part of the FANTOM4 program, and researchers from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland.
PhD student Ruan Taft led one of the articles, with Professor John Mattick as the lead author, while Professor Sean Grimmond was the lead author of another article, directed by Dr. Geoff Faulkner.
Professor John Mattick stated: “FANTOM4 demonstrates that instead of having a few ‘master’ genes controlling growth and development, a complex network of regulatory components influences gene expression in different cells within the body.”
This information will be very useful for medical and biological researchers, according to Professor Sean Grimmond.
“We can use this discovery to explore how cells transition from ‘blank’ rapidly dividing cells to mature cells with specific functions. This will help us understand why certain genes are involved in cancer and how to control stem cells in regenerative medicine.”
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Researchers discovered how genes are regulated in mammals and the smallest known genetic components. (Image: iStockphoto/Eric Gevaert) |
One of the articles describes the discovery of very small RNAs, the smallest known genetic components, related to the expression of a single gene. Such an RNA is only 18 nucleotides long, which is 100 times smaller than an average gene.
Taft remarked: “Previous researchers noticed the length of RNA in the genome but assumed they were fragments from a larger genetic component.”
“We found that this genetic component is too ubiquitous and is distributed too specifically. They are associated with gene-activating factors and may play a role in gene activation. Once we can better understand their roles, we hope to utilize these tiny RNAs to control gene expression.”
RNA is a molecule similar to DNA that decodes genetic information from DNA to proteins, and in the case of these very small RNAs, they may regulate longer RNA molecules before they are translated into proteins.
Another article investigates retrotransposons, genetic components that move around the genome and leave copies of themselves.
Dr. Faulkner stated: “We believe that retrotransposons only operate in cancer cells or cells that are transitioning into eggs or sperm. The results show that retrotransposons that have lost their ability to move around the genome are present in many types of cells, thereby regulating the expression of nearby genes.”
References:
1. Faulkner et al. The regulated retrotransposon transcriptome of mammalian cells. Nature Genetics, 2009; DOI: 10.1038/ng.368
2. Suzuki et al. The transcriptional network that controls growth arrest and differentiation in a human myeloid leukemia cell line. Nature Genetics, 2009; DOI: 10.1038/ng.375
3. Taft et al. Tiny RNAs associated with transcription start sites in animals. Nature Genetics, 2009; DOI: 10.1038/ng.312
