Navigation Links
Newly-discovered mechanism can explain the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
Date:10/24/2008

Researchers from Uppsala University have discovered a mechanism that silences several genes in a chromosome domain. The findings, published in today's on-line issue of Molecular Cell, have implications in understanding the human disorder Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.

In mammals the cells contain two copies of each chromosome, one inherited from the mother and one from the father. The genes on the chromosomes can either be active or inactive. If a gene is active on the maternal chromosome, the corresponding gene is usually active also on paternal chromosome. However, in some domains of the chromosome the activity is shut down on one of the chromosomes but not on the other. The genes in these domains cannot be activated the normal way but are completely silenced. The present study shows for the first time how this silencing of several genes on a chromosome is accomplished.

The research group, led by Chandrasekhar Kanduri, has studied a domain with several silenced genes on chromosome 7 in the mouse. The corresponding domain with silenced genes is located on the human chromosome 11. When part of this domain is transcribed a long RNA molecule, Kcnq1ot1-RNA, is formed. This RNA does not give rise to any protein, instead it mediates the silencing of eight to ten genes in a much larger area on the chromosome. Based on their findings the researchers have suggested a model for how this is accomplished. The Kcnq1ot1-RNA binds to the DNA in the domain and recruits specific enzymes that chemically modify DNA-binding proteins. This modification makes the DNA inaccessible for transcription and thereby the genes cannot be activated. In addition, the Kcnq1ot1-RNA targets the silenced domain to a specific area in the cell nucleus. There it is protected during cell division and the genes will stay silenced also in the daughter cells.

We show for the first time how a long RNA molecule can establish and maintain silencing of multiple genes in a la
'/>"/>

Contact: Chandrasekhar Kanduri
kanduri.chandrasekhar@genpat.uu.se
46-073-960-0450
Uppsala University
Source:Eurekalert

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Carnegie Mellon scientists investigate initial molecular mechanism that triggers neuronal firing
2. Scientists find clue to mechanisms of gene signaling and regulation
3. Neural stem cell study reveals mechanism that may play role in cancer
4. New insight into the mechanisms of voltage sensing and transduction in biological processes
5. Mechanism for the in-vivo transport of siRNA
6. Scientists decipher mechanism behind antimicrobial hole punchers
7. Enhanced DNA-repair mechanism can cause breast cancer
8. Scientists enhance Mother Natures carbon handling mechanism
9. A mechanism to explain biological cross-talk between 24-hour body cycle and metabolism
10. Mechanism for regulation of growth and differentiation of adult muscle stem cells is revealed
11. Pathogens use previously undescribed mechanism to sabotage host immune system

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:11/4/2009)...stCall/ -- BIO-key International, Inc. (OTC Bullet...c identification software is showcasing donor and ...ence being held at the New Orleans Convention Cent...ands-on product demonstrations of its state-of-the..., at 5 PM on Monday, October 26, Peter Lux, manage...
(Date:11/3/2009)...world,s greatest wines are the result of a threefo...omething called the "terroir" -- a term often defi... Experts will discuss terroir with an emphasis on ...n Pittsburgh. "Terroir: Winegrapes and the Enviro...Annual Meetings of the American Society of Agronom...
(Date:11/3/2009)... much as 28 percent less likely to become pregnant...earch that earned a Michigan State University prof...a Luke, a researcher in the MSU College of Human M... Reproductive Biology, focused on data of nearly 5.... , Luke,s findings, which also can be applied t...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):BIO-key(R) International Exhibiting at AABB TXPO 2Great wines come from great soils 2MSU researcher: Obesity significantly cuts odds of successful pregnancy 2Back to School Health 3A Are Your Childs Eyes Ready for the Classroom 3F 52683 1Back to School Health 3A Are Your Childs Eyes Ready for the Classroom 3F 52683 2Back to School Health 3A Are Your Childs Eyes Ready for the Classroom 3F 52683 3Agent Orange Linked to Parkinsons Heart Disease 52680 1Agent Orange Linked to Parkinsons Heart Disease 52680 2Agent Orange Linked to Parkinsons Heart Disease 52680 3Agent Orange Linked to Parkinsons Heart Disease 52680 4San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate of the Susan G Komen for the Cure Funds Over 241 6 Million This Year to Community Outreach Programs 52677 1San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate of the Susan G Komen for the Cure Funds Over 241 6 Million This Year to Community Outreach Programs 52677 2San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate of the Susan G Komen for the Cure Funds Over 241 6 Million This Year to Community Outreach Programs 52677 3San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate of the Susan G Komen for the Cure Funds Over 241 6 Million This Year to Community Outreach Programs 52677 4
...f obesity in the U.S. states has been greatly unde...ublic Health (HSPH) analyzed data from health surv...states. Because people tend to provide incorrect i...ly in telephone surveys, the researchers concluded...ve been too low, by more than 50%. Their study, wh...
...same yield/acre, use fewer chemical insecticides a...e biotech cotton known as Bt cotton, according to ...arge-scale study that simultaneously examined how ... biodiversity. It,s good news for the environment....zona -- no doubt about it," said Yves Carrière, an...
..." may hit closer to the mark than we suspected. ...ersity of California, San Diego, and published in ...t that judgments of attractiveness depend on menta..., "What you like is a function of what your mind ... becomes attractive if it falls into the average o...
Other Biology News:Obesity levels in US are grossly underestimated 2Biotech cotton provides same yield with fewer pesticides 2Biotech cotton provides same yield with fewer pesticides 3Beauty and the brain 2Beauty and the brain 3
(Date:11/5/2009)...5 BioSpecifics Technolog...mpany developing first-in-class collagenase-based ...r the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. ,...this year, the FDA,s Arthritis Advisory Committee ...proval of XIAFLEX(TM) for the treatment of Dupuytr...
(Date:11/5/2009)... 5 WaferGen Biosystems, ...er of state-of-the-art genetic analysis systems, t...oined the company,s Scientific Advisory Board. Hi...ializing novel molecular diagnostics for cancer de...ment of computational biology systems for several ...
(Date:11/5/2009)...ASIK Surgery and vision correction experts listed ...ely involved at the recently concluded American Ac...n San Francisco, California. Dr. Stephen Brint, MD...dorf, MD, Dr. Peter Rapoza, MD, Dr. Michael Raizma..., MD, Dr. Edward Manche, MD, and Dr. Parag Majmuda...
(Date:11/4/2009).... 4 DIATHERIX Laboratories, Inc. (...d at the Michigan Security Network Homeland Securi... Dennis Grimaud, Chairman and Chief Executive Offi...any,s advanced molecular diagnostic testing on bio...se diagnosis and military efforts. ,, "This co...
Breaking Biology Technology:BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 2BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 3BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 4BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results 5WaferGen Names Christopher Sears, Ph.D., Architect of High-Value Molecular Diagnostics and Computational Biology Platforms, to Company's Scientific Advisory Board 2WaferGen Names Christopher Sears, Ph.D., Architect of High-Value Molecular Diagnostics and Computational Biology Platforms, to Company's Scientific Advisory Board 3WaferGen Names Christopher Sears, Ph.D., Architect of High-Value Molecular Diagnostics and Computational Biology Platforms, to Company's Scientific Advisory Board 4Leading Vision Correction Experts in Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory Educate Fellow Doctors at AAO Annual Meeting 2Leading Vision Correction Experts in Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory Educate Fellow Doctors at AAO Annual Meeting 3Leading Vision Correction Experts in Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory Educate Fellow Doctors at AAO Annual Meeting 4Leading Vision Correction Experts in Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory Educate Fellow Doctors at AAO Annual Meeting 5Leading Vision Correction Experts in Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory Educate Fellow Doctors at AAO Annual Meeting 6Leading Vision Correction Experts in Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory Educate Fellow Doctors at AAO Annual Meeting 7Leading Vision Correction Experts in Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory Educate Fellow Doctors at AAO Annual Meeting 8Leading Vision Correction Experts in Trusted LASIK Surgeons Directory Educate Fellow Doctors at AAO Annual Meeting 9DIATHERIX Laboratories Presents at Homeland Security Conference 2
... To validate any RNAi experiment...d be confirmed and quantitated. Validation, , ... is known to be effective, , is...ers. , Validation is also neces...fectiveness and potency of any siRNA sequence. Fin...
...ActivePro In Vitro Translation Kit , ...protein than reticulocyte , lysate system...protein translation , Higher biologica...ate systems , Easy to use , Fo... protein-protein interactions, Ambio...
... RNA quality is a critical determinant for ,... applications, including , micr...ing , microarray analysis exper... consider the factors that affect the quality o...ic Responses to Injury , Affect...
Other Biology Technology:Confirming RNAi Effects Is Now Easier Than Ever 2Confirming RNAi Effects Is Now Easier Than Ever 3Confirming RNAi Effects Is Now Easier Than Ever 4Confirming RNAi Effects Is Now Easier Than Ever 5Increase Protein Activity and Yield 2Increase Protein Activity and Yield 3Determinants of RNA Integrity and Purity 2Determinants of RNA Integrity and Purity 3Determinants of RNA Integrity and Purity 4Determinants of RNA Integrity and Purity 5Determinants of RNA Integrity and Purity 6Determinants of RNA Integrity and Purity 7
Rat CXCL7 (NAP-2) ELISA development Kit, DuoSet Economy Pack from R&D Systems
X-Gal from GE Healthcare, formerly Amersham Biosciences
Rat Fas, Unconjugated from R&D Systems
RABBIT (NORMAL) COMPLEMENT from AbD Serotec
Biology Products: