Downregulation of Gene Expression by Alpha Satellite Transcripts.

ABSTRACT: Satellite DNAs are highly abundant sequences that build functional centromeres and pericentromeric heterochromatin in many eukaryotes. Apart from this structural role, their involvement in gene expression modulation has been demonstrated, although a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms is still lacking. Here, using the major human alpha satellite as a model system, we investigate the role of satellite transcripts in gene expression regulation. We generated cell lines with forced, exogenous overexpression of alpha satellite RNA and followed the expression levels of genes containing alpha satellite repeats within introns. Our results reveal a positive correlation between exogenous alpha satellite expression and the downregulation of alpha-associated genes, strongly suggesting t

SUBMITTER: Ljubic S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12653875 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature