Cotranscriptional Chromatin Remodeling by Small RNA Species: An HTLV-1 Perspective

Figure 3

Model for the chromatin remodeling by siRNA/miRNA. siRNA in association with the RNA-induced transcriptional silencing complex can alter the rate of chromosomal transcription in a number of ways. It can directly bind nascent mRNA being transcribed from centromeric heterochromatin preventing its translation. The Ago 1/2 protein of the RITS complex can recruit transcription factors and chromatin-remodeling complexes like SWI/SNF that in turn cause assembly of histone modifying enzymes (viz., HATs, HDACs, etc.). The RITS complex can also recruit methylating enzymes that can either directly methylate CpG regions of centromeric DNA or H3K9 regions on histones associated with the chromosome.