tRNA genes protect a reporter gene from epigenetic silencing in mouse cells

Epigenetic gene silencing in cancer.

Nickel and Epigenetic Gene Silencing

Insoluble nickel compounds are well-established human carcinogens. Occupational exposure to these compounds leads to increased incidence of lung and nasal cancer in nickel refinery workers. Apart from its weak mutagenic activity and hypoxia mimicking effect there is mounting experimental evidence indicating that epigenetic alteration plays an important role in nickel-induced carcinogenesis. Mul...

Epigenetic phenomena: Epigenetic phenomena: Paramutation and gene silencing in plants

Gene silencing is a widespread phenomenon in plants, and can affect endogenous genes as well as transgenes integrated into the genome [1,2]. Gene silencing can be induced by interactions between related genes, and one of the best-known examples is named paramutation. Paramutation is the directed heritable alteration of one allele following exposure to another allele in a heterozygote [3]. Examp...

Three mitochondria! tRNA genes from Arabidopsis thaliana: evidence for the conversion of a tRNA"* gene into a tRNA gene

Three tRNA genes have been isolated from a genomic library of Arabidopsis thaliana: a tRNA (GCU), a tRNA (GUA) and a tRNA (UUC) genes. These genes are located closely on the same DNA fragment. The tRNA and the tRNA genes have both 99% sequence similarity with their mitochondrial counterparts from higher plants indicating that these three tRNA genes are mitochondrial. The tRNAv gene shows a part...

Reporter Gene Silencing in Targeted Mouse Mutants Is Associated with Promoter CpG Island Methylation

Targeted mutations in mouse disrupt local chromatin structure and may lead to unanticipated local effects. We evaluated targeted gene promoter silencing in a group of six mutants carrying the tm1a Knockout Mouse Project allele containing both a LacZ reporter gene driven by the native promoter and a neo selection cassette. Messenger RNA levels of the reporter gene and targeted gene were assessed...