Understanding the role of endogenous siRNAs in the maintenance of genomic defenses

反转录转座子的不适当表达会导致基因组的不稳定性增加。控制反转录转座子表达的潜在分子途径尚不清楚。本项目拟在分子水平上研究自然发生的内源性非编码小RNA(Endo-siRNAs)如何促进反转录转座子的表观遗传沉默，并研究Endo-siRNAs表达在反转录转座子的包装和维持中的可能影响。理解这个基本问题将促进对小RNA在我们的基因组防御系统中功能的科学认识。

The inappropriate expression of retrotransposons can cause increased genomic instability. The underlying molecular pathways that control retrotransposon expression are not known. This project proposes to investigate this question at a molecular level how naturally occurring small endogenous noncoding RNAs (endo-siRNAs) enforce the epigenetic silencing of retrotransposons and examine the likely impact of endo-siRNAs expression in the packaging and maintenance of retrotransposons. Understanding this fundamental question will advance the scientific knowledge of small RNA functions in our genomic defense systems.