INHERITANCE OF RNA-DIRECTED EPIGENETIC MODIFICATIONS OF CHROMATIN
N. V. Tomilin
Institute of Cytology RAS, St. Petersburg;
e-mail: nvtom@mail.ru
Published data are reviewed on the mechanism of inheritance of repressive epigenetic modifications of chromatin, histone and DNA, which suggest that they
depend on RNA. RNA is transcribed from most of genome compartments and when it forms duplex structures because of overlapping transcription or because of
resynthesis by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, heterochromatin is generated. Mitotic phosphorylation of Ser-10 in histone H3 stimulates transcription of
heterochromatin and its recovery in the next cell cycle by RNA interference.
Key words: epigenetics, modifications of histones, chromatin, methylation of DNA
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