Antisense transcription: A critical look in both directions

Abstract

The mammalian genome contains a large layer of hidden biological information. High-throughput methods have provided new insights into the regulatory networks that orchestrate the "when, where and how" of gene expression, revealing a complex interplay between proteins, regulatory RNAs, and chemical and structural alterations of the genome itself. Naturally occurring antisense transcription has been considered as an important feature in creating transcriptional and hence cellular and organismal complexity. Here, we review the current understanding of the extent, functions and significance of antisense transcription. We critically discuss results from genome-wide studies and documented examples of individual antisense transcripts. So far, the regulatory potential of gene overlaps has been demonstrated only in a few selected cases of experimentally characterized antisense transcripts. Facing the large-scale antisense transcription observed in eukaryotic genomes, it still remains an open challenge to distinguish transcriptional noise from biological function of gene overlapping patterns.

cis-Antisense RNA, Another Level of Gene Regulation in Bacteria

“…The majority of the transcriptional output, up to 90%, consists of RNA that does not code for proteins (6). Major developmental and evolutionary differences between humans and other primates are thought to be caused by the action of regulatory noncoding RNAs originating from intergenic and noncoding regions.…”

“…Major developmental and evolutionary differences between humans and other primates are thought to be caused by the action of regulatory noncoding RNAs originating from intergenic and noncoding regions. In addition, substantial antisense transcription from protein-coding regions in human cells has been reported (6,33). These transcripts are called natural antisense RNAs (asRNAs) or cis-encoded natural asRNAs.…”

Genome-wide identification of long noncoding natural antisense transcripts and their responses to light in Arabidopsis

“…The accumulated results of specific genomic loci on senseantisense pairs have established important physiological and pathological consequences of NATs regulation (Beiter et al 2009;Ietswaart et al 2012). NATs are involved in regulating responses to various abiotic and biotic stresses (Lavorgna et al 2004;Werner 2005;Charon et al 2010).…”

Environmental epigenomics: Current approaches to assess epigenetic effects of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC’s) on human health

“…Other epigenetic mechanisms involve molecular regulators such as histone variant, histone post-translational modifications, nucleosome positioning chromosome looping, DNA structural variations, and RNA-mediated regulation (Beiter et al, 2009;Bernstein et al, 2007;Gibney & Nolan, 2010;Hartley & Madhani, 2009;Hiragrami-Hamada et al, 2009;Jia et al, 2007;Klose & Bird, 2006). These mechanisms are closely related to chromatin conformation and, therefore, polymerase accessibility for gene expression.…”