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PMID: 19621349 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Review

InvAluable junk: the cellular impact and function of Alu and B2 RNAs.

IUBMB life ·Vol. 61 ·No. 8 ·2009-08-00 ·Pages 831-7

Walters RD, Kugel JF, Goodrich JA

Abstract

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.

MeSH Terms
Animals Gene Expression Regulation/genetics,physiology Humans Mice RNA Polymerase II/genetics,physiology RNA Polymerase III/genetics,physiology Short Interspersed Nucleotide Elements/genetics
Chemicals
RNA Polymerase II RNA Polymerase III
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Walters Ryan D
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
Kugel Jennifer F
Goodrich James A
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Article Info
Journal
IUBMB life
Abbr.
IUBMB Life
ISSN
1521-6551
DOI
10.1002/iub.227
Published
2009-08-00
Pages
831-7
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
100888706
PMCID
PMC4049031
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM068414 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM068414-06 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · T32 GM008759 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · T32 GM08759 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1002/iub.227 PMC Full Text View journal details
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