Strand selective generation of endo-siRNAs from the Na/phosphate transporter gene Slc34a1 in murine tissues.

ABSTRACT: Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are important regulators of gene expression. Recently, a link between antisense transcription and the formation of endo-siRNAs has emerged. We investigated the bi-directionally transcribed Na/phosphate cotransporter gene (Slc34a1) under the aspect of endo-siRNA processing. Mouse Slc34a1 produces an antisense transcript that represents an alternative splice product of the Pfn3 gene located downstream of Slc34a1. The antisense transcript is prominently found in testis and in kidney. Co-expression of in vitro synthesized sense/antisense transcripts in Xenopus oocytes indicated processing of the overlapping transcripts into endo-siRNAs in the nucleus. Truncation experiments revealed that an overlap of at least 29 base-pairs is required to induce processing.

SUBMITTER: Carlile M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2673434 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature