Discovered a regulatory mechanism of antisense DNA

From left to right, researchers Raquel Boque-Sastre, Cristina Oliveira-Mateos, Marta Soler, Manel Esteller and Sonia Guil.
From left to right, researchers Raquel Boque-Sastre, Cristina Oliveira-Mateos, Marta Soler, Manel Esteller and Sonia Guil.
Research
(23/04/2015)

Human genes are always expressed as in Western writing: from left to right. So, when we speak about the activity of our genome, in fact, we refer to the expression of genes in this sense of the double-stranded DNA. However, for some while, it is known the existence of some 'rebel' DNA sequences that are activated in reverse: from right to left. They are known as antisense transcripts and their functions remain little known.

The study, co-directed by Manel Esteller, professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences II and ICREA research professor at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), and Sònia Guil, researcher in the former institute, provides new clues and mechanisms to understand gene functions and alterations in cancer. The study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 
From left to right, researchers Raquel Boque-Sastre, Cristina Oliveira-Mateos, Marta Soler, Manel Esteller and Sonia Guil.
From left to right, researchers Raquel Boque-Sastre, Cristina Oliveira-Mateos, Marta Soler, Manel Esteller and Sonia Guil.
Research
23/04/2015

Human genes are always expressed as in Western writing: from left to right. So, when we speak about the activity of our genome, in fact, we refer to the expression of genes in this sense of the double-stranded DNA. However, for some while, it is known the existence of some 'rebel' DNA sequences that are activated in reverse: from right to left. They are known as antisense transcripts and their functions remain little known.

The study, co-directed by Manel Esteller, professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences II and ICREA research professor at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), and Sònia Guil, researcher in the former institute, provides new clues and mechanisms to understand gene functions and alterations in cancer. The study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 

Article reference:

R. Boque-Sastre, M. Soler, C. Oliveira-Mateos, A. Portela, C. Moutinho, S. Sayols, A. Villanueva, M. Esteller and S. Guil. "Head-to-head antisense transcription and R-loop formation promotes transcriptional activation". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Doi: 10.1073/pnas.1421197112, 2015.