RNA-Mediated Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Mice: The Power of Memory

The mouse genome is transcribed at different rates in both directions from the newly formed genome after fertilization. During embryonic genomic activation (EGA/ZGA), the first RNA metabolism creates heterogeneity between blastomeres. Indeed, ZGA-dependent maternal RNA degradation is crucial to regu...

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Main Author: Minoo Rassoulzadegan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/605
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author Minoo Rassoulzadegan
author_facet Minoo Rassoulzadegan
author_sort Minoo Rassoulzadegan
collection DOAJ
description The mouse genome is transcribed at different rates in both directions from the newly formed genome after fertilization. During embryonic genomic activation (EGA/ZGA), the first RNA metabolism creates heterogeneity between blastomeres. Indeed, ZGA-dependent maternal RNA degradation is crucial to regulate gene expression and enable the initiation and acquisition of full developmental competence. Subsequently, from the new genome, in addition to mRNAs, a wide range of regulatory ncRNAs are also transcribed. Regulatory ncRNAs (non-coding RNAs) have profoundly influenced fields ranging from developmental biology to RNA-mediated non-Mendelian inheritance, exhibiting sequence-specific functions. To date, the database cataloging ncRNA is not exhaustive, but their high sequence diversity, length and low expression level can vary within the same genome depending on environmental conditions, making understanding their functions often ambiguous. Indeed, during transcription control, cellular RNA content varies continuously. This phenomenon is observed in genetically identical organisms studied—bacteria, flies, plants and mammals—due to changes in transcription rates, and therefore, it impacts cellular memory. Importantly, experimental data regarding the simple modification of RNAs levels by microinjection into fertilized mouse eggs suggest that they certainly play a driving role in establishing and transmitting newly formed expression information. The idea here is that, even in a stable genome, transcripts can vary rapidly and significantly in response to environmental changes, initiated by transcriptional variations in the genome, thus altering cellular memory.
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spelling doaj-art-01d15f990b894e70aacf0afdd28321d72025-08-20T02:28:40ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-04-0115460510.3390/biom15040605RNA-Mediated Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Mice: The Power of MemoryMinoo Rassoulzadegan0Department of Medical Biology, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38039, TurkeyThe mouse genome is transcribed at different rates in both directions from the newly formed genome after fertilization. During embryonic genomic activation (EGA/ZGA), the first RNA metabolism creates heterogeneity between blastomeres. Indeed, ZGA-dependent maternal RNA degradation is crucial to regulate gene expression and enable the initiation and acquisition of full developmental competence. Subsequently, from the new genome, in addition to mRNAs, a wide range of regulatory ncRNAs are also transcribed. Regulatory ncRNAs (non-coding RNAs) have profoundly influenced fields ranging from developmental biology to RNA-mediated non-Mendelian inheritance, exhibiting sequence-specific functions. To date, the database cataloging ncRNA is not exhaustive, but their high sequence diversity, length and low expression level can vary within the same genome depending on environmental conditions, making understanding their functions often ambiguous. Indeed, during transcription control, cellular RNA content varies continuously. This phenomenon is observed in genetically identical organisms studied—bacteria, flies, plants and mammals—due to changes in transcription rates, and therefore, it impacts cellular memory. Importantly, experimental data regarding the simple modification of RNAs levels by microinjection into fertilized mouse eggs suggest that they certainly play a driving role in establishing and transmitting newly formed expression information. The idea here is that, even in a stable genome, transcripts can vary rapidly and significantly in response to environmental changes, initiated by transcriptional variations in the genome, thus altering cellular memory.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/605geneticphenotypenon-Mendelian inheritanceRNAcell memory
spellingShingle Minoo Rassoulzadegan
RNA-Mediated Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Mice: The Power of Memory
Biomolecules
genetic
phenotype
non-Mendelian inheritance
RNA
cell memory
title RNA-Mediated Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Mice: The Power of Memory
title_full RNA-Mediated Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Mice: The Power of Memory
title_fullStr RNA-Mediated Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Mice: The Power of Memory
title_full_unstemmed RNA-Mediated Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Mice: The Power of Memory
title_short RNA-Mediated Non-Mendelian Inheritance in Mice: The Power of Memory
title_sort rna mediated non mendelian inheritance in mice the power of memory
topic genetic
phenotype
non-Mendelian inheritance
RNA
cell memory
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/605
work_keys_str_mv AT minoorassoulzadegan rnamediatednonmendelianinheritanceinmicethepowerofmemory