RNAa:一种新型的反标准ncRNA调控基因表达模式

RNAa:A New Contra-standard Model for ncRNA Regulating Gene Expression

RNA激活(RNA activation,RNAa)是目前最新发现的一种反标准非编码RNA(noncoding RNA,ncRNA)调控模式,它由双链RNA(double-stranded RNA,dsRNA)分子介导,在转录水平激活目的基因表达。有别于传统的RNA调控方式,RNAa调控中既存在dsRNA与靶基因间的空间偶合作用,又具有RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)样的序列互补依赖性,在保持较高特异性的前提下,能够人为地选择多个靶位点实现目的基因激活。RNAa靶向于基因启动子的非CpG岛及Alu区,并受组蛋白H3的甲基化及乙酰化状态影响,和RNAi的沉默效果相比,RNAa的激活作用更为持久,为肿瘤、代谢及遗传性疾病的治疗提供了一个新的方法。现就RNAa的发现、作用机制以及应用前景进行了综述,并比较了RNAa与传统ncRNA调控的联系与区别。

RNA activation （RNAa） is a newly discovered model for non-coding RNA （ncRNA） regulating gene expression in contra-standard manner. The process is mediated by double-stranded RNA （dsRNA） which promotes the expression of homologous genes in a transcriptional level. As a newly discovered mechanism, RNAa differs greatly with traditional means in gene regulation, in which not only spatial interaction between dsRNA and it＇s target gene is involved, but also RNA interference （RNAi）-like sequence complement is dependent, that numerous targeting sites can be artificially selected to activate gene expression with comparatively high specificity. RNAa makes its targets beyond CpG islands and Alu sequences of promoter under control of methylation and acetylation state of histone H3 with long lasting activation than RNAi, which provides a new tool to treat cancer, metabolization and heredity diseases. Thereby, this article compared traditional ncRNA regulations with RNAa. Whereafter, reviewed relatively on RNAa＇s discovery, mechanism and it＇s future applications.