- gene conversion
A DNA recombination process that results in the unidirectional transfer of genetic material from a donor sequence to a highly homologous acceptor. The resulting acceptor sequence is identical to that of the donor.
- gene expression
The process in which a gene's sequence is converted into a mature gene product (protein or RNA). This includes the production of an RNA transcript and its processing, as well as translation and maturation for protein-coding genes.
- miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing
A post-transcriptional gene silencing pathway in which regulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) elicit silencing of specific target genes. miRNAs are endogenous 21-24 nucleotide small RNAs processed from stem-loop RNA precursors (pre-miRNAs). Once incorporated into a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), miRNAs can downregulate protein production by either of two posttranscriptional mechanisms: endonucleolytic cleavage of the RNA (often mRNA) or mRNA translational repression, usually accompanied by poly-A tail shortening and subsequent degradation of the mRNA. miRNAs are present in all the animals and in plants, whereas siRNAs are present in lower animals and in plants.
- obsolete gene looping
OBSOLETE. The formation and maintenance of DNA loops that juxtapose sequentially separated regions of RNA polymerase II-transcribed genes.
- obsolete gene silencing
OBSOLETE. Any process carried out at the cellular level that results in either long-term transcriptional repression via action on chromatin structure or RNA mediated, post-transcriptional repression of gene expression.
- viral gene expression
A process by which a viral gene is converted into a mature gene product or products (proteins or RNA). This includes viral transcription, processing to produce a mature RNA product, and viral translation.
- tRNA gene clustering
The process in which tRNA genes, which are not linearly connected on the chromosome, are transported in three dimensions to, and maintained together in, the nucleolus. This clustered positioning leads to transcriptional silencing of nearby RNA polymerase II promoters (termed tRNA gene mediated (tgm) silencing) in S. cerevisiae.