Programmed fluctuations in sense/antisense transcript ratios drive sexual differentiation in S. pombe.

ABSTRACT: Strand-specific RNA sequencing of S. pombe revealed a highly structured programme of ncRNA expression at over 600 loci. Waves of antisense transcription accompanied sexual differentiation. A substantial proportion of ncRNA arose from mechanisms previously considered to be largely artefactual, including improper 3' termination and bidirectional transcription. Constitutive induction of the entire spk1+, spo4+, dis1+ and spo6+ antisense transcripts from an integrated, ectopic, locus disrupted their respective meiotic functions. This ability of antisense transcripts to disrupt gene function when expressed in trans suggests that cis production at native loci during sexual differentiation may also control gene function. Consistently, insertion of a marker gene adjacent to the dis1+ antisense sta

SUBMITTER: Bitton DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3738847 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature