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The Structure, Expression, and Non-Canonical Functions of Human rDNA: The Role of Non-Coding Regions

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Abstract

The genes coding for the rRNAs seem evolutionary conserved on the first glance, but astonish one with their variability in the structure and a variety of functions on closer examination. The non-coding parts of rDNA contain regulatory elements, protein binding sites, pseudogenes, repetitive sequences, and microRNA genes. Ribosomal intergenic spacers are not only in charge with the nucleolus morphology and functioning, namely, the rRNA expression and ribosome biogenesis, but also control nuclear chromatin formation thus mediating cell differentiation. The alterations in the expression of these non-coding regions of rDNA in response to environmental stimuli underlie the keen sense of a cell to various types of stressors. Malfunctioning of this process may result in a wide range of pathologies from oncology to neurodegenerative disease and mental illness. Here, we observe to-date materials on the structure and transcription of the ribosomal intergenic spacer in humans and its role in rRNA expression, in-born disease development, and cancer.

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Funding

The work was funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, grant no. 075-15-2020-809 (13.1902.21.0030).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, 117485, Moscow, Russia

    A. A. Sadova, D. Yu. Panteleev & G. V. Pavlova

  2. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia

    A. A. Sadova

  3. Burdenko National Medical Research Center for Neurosurgery, 125047, Moscow, Russia

    G. V. Pavlova

  4. First Moscow State Medical University, 119435, Moscow, Russia

    G. V. Pavlova

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  1. A. A. Sadova
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  2. D. Yu. Panteleev
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  3. G. V. Pavlova
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Correspondence to A. A. Sadova.

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The article was translated by the authors.

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Translated by A. A. Sadova

Abbreviations: ETS, external transcribed spacer; IGS-RNA, RNAs, transcribed from rIGS; ITS, internal transcribed spacer; lncRNA, long non-coding RNA; ncRNA, non-coding RNA; NOR, nucleolus organizer region; NoRC, nucleolar remodeling complex; NuRD, nucleosome remodeling and deacetylation; PAPAS, promoter and pre-rRNA antisense RNA; rIGS, ribosomal intergenic spacer.

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Sadova, A.A., Panteleev, D.Y. & Pavlova, G.V. The Structure, Expression, and Non-Canonical Functions of Human rDNA: The Role of Non-Coding Regions. Mol Biol 57, 398–411 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S002689332303007X

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S002689332303007X

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