Paramutation: a process for acquiring trans-generational regulatory states.

摘要: Basic tenets of Mendelian inheritance are violated by paramutations in which trans-homolog interactions lead to heritable changes gene regulation and phenotype. First described plants, similar behaviors have now been noted diverse eukaryotes. Genetic molecular studies occurring maize indicate that components a small interfering RNA (siRNA) biogenesis pathway required for the maintenance meiotically regulatory states. Although these findings hypothesis siRNAs themselves mediate paramutation interactions, an assessment existing data supports opinion alone insufficient. Recent evidence implies transcription paramutation-associated repeats siRNA-facilitated chromatin at affected loci involved directing maintaining typify paramutations.