天然反义RNA(NATs):基因表达的重要调控分子

Natural Antisense Transcripts(NATs):Important Regulatory Molecules Upon Gene Expression

天然反义RNA(natural antisense transcripts,NATs)是在多个物种广泛表达的一类非编码RNA分子,可在转录水平、转录后水平、翻译水平等多个层次采取不同的机制调节靶基因的表达,对器官形成、细胞分化和疾病发生等各种生理和病理过程都有重要的调控作用.本文在总结、回顾近年来天然反义RNA研究进展的基础上,从转录碰撞、DNA甲基化修饰、小分子RNA等9个方面详细介绍和阐述NATs的作用机制,并提出未来NATs研究需要重点解决的两个问题:一是开发合适的实验系统研究特定条件下的NATs表达与生物学功能,二是深入阐明NATs的自身表达调控机制,深化对其生物学意义的认识.对天然反义RNA的研究为药物开发和疾病治疗提供了新的思路和突破口.

Natural antisense transcripts （NATs） belong to a distinct class of non-coding RNAs mat are expressed in a wide arrange of species. The regulation of NATs on the expression of their targeted genes can be at the transcription, translation or post-transcription level, and these varied mechanisms influenced various physiological and pathological processes, such as organogenesis, cell differentiation and disease progression. By reviewing the latest advance about NATs in recent years, this article discusses the NATs functions from nine aspects, including transcriptional collision, DNA methylation, as well as connections with small RNAs, etc. Two important questions are raised for future studies, i.e. how to develop appropriate experimental systems to explore the expression and biological functions of NATs under speeicial conditions; and what is the regulatory mechanisms concerning NATs asbout their biological significances. Studies on NATs should produce more valuable information and be useful for drug development and disease therapy.