Locked nucleic acids (LNAs) reveal sequence requirements and kinetics of Xist RNA localization to the X chromosome.

ABSTRACT: A large fraction of the mammalian genome is transcribed into long noncoding RNAs. The RNAs remain largely uncharacterized as the field awaits new technologies to aid functional analysis. Here, we describe a unique use of locked nucleic acids (LNAs) for studying nuclear long noncoding RNA, an RNA subclass that has been less amenable to traditional knockdown techniques. We target LNAs at Xist RNA and show displacement from the X chromosome with fast kinetics. Xist transcript stability is not affected. By targeting different Xist regions, we identify a localization domain and show that polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is displaced together with Xist. Thus, PRC2 depends on RNA for both initial targeting to and stable association with chromatin. H3K27-trimethyl marks and gene silencing rema

SUBMITTER: Sarma K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3009817 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature