一种含有端粒重复序列非编码RNA的发现及最新研究进展

The discovery and research advances of a telomeric repeat-containing non-coding RNA

端粒是染色体末端的特化结构,由简单呈串联线性排列的核酸重复序列及相关蛋白质组成。其核酸序列具有高度的保守性,均富含GC。在人类为TTAGGG的高度重复序列具有维持基因组完整性的作用。端粒功能异常会导致染色体失去稳定性,促进肿瘤的发生和发展。以往认为端粒附近区域不具有转录活性,但最近在Science杂志上Azzalin等首次报道了该区域可以转录一种非编码RNA,即端粒RNA(telomeric RNA)。该分子具有特殊的UUAGGG重复序列,在调控端粒长度和端粒酶活性上具有重要作用,在发育、衰老和肿瘤发生发展等研究中已成为热点。该文将对近期有关端粒RNA的研究进展予以综述。

Telomeres,the specialized structure of chromosomes ends,consist of tandem arrays of DNA repeats and related proteins. Telomeres are conserved during biological evolution and rich in GC nucletide. Telomeres contain TTAGGG repeats in human,which are responsible for maintaining genomic integrity. Telomeres’ dysfunction leads to chromosome instability,and contributes to tumor development. It has long been consid-ered that telomeres are transcription-silenced. However,a recent study reported for the first time that a long non-coding RNA was transcribed from this region,named telomeric RNA. The molecule has a special sequence of UUAGGG repeats,plays an important role in the regulation of telomere length and telomerase activity,and has already become a hot spot in the research field of development,aging and tumor progression. This article will review the recent progress of telomeric RNA research.