The plasticity of the mammalian transcriptome

• The dogmatic view of RNA as a mere necessity in the transfer of information between DNA and proteins has during recent years come into question. Novel approaches and new technology has revealed an unprecedented level of inherent complexity in the mammalian transcriptome. Here, the majority of nucleotides are expressed, in sharp contrast to the similar to 1.2% of the human genome harboring protein coding information. Also, >50% of genomic loci contain antisense and interleaved transcription, a conservative estimate since non-coding RNA is highly regulated between tissues and developmental stages, which has only been investigated to a limited extent. Subsequent focus on RNA with no coding potential has revealed numerous species with novel functions, and deep sequencing studies imply that many remain to be discovered. This review gives an overview of the plasticity and dynamics of the mammalian transcriptome and the prevailing interpretation of its effect on the complexity of species.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Industriell bioteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Industrial Biotechnology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

RNA

Transcriptome plasticity

Regulatory RNA

Noncoding RNA

Pervasive

transcription

long noncoding rnas

gene-expression

messenger-rnas

human genome

drosophila-melanogaster

antisense transcription

caenorhabditis-elegans

transposable elements

dna demethylation

eukaryotic cells

Bioengineering

Bioteknik

Publication and Content Type

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