Interplay Between RNA Processing Machinery and Epigenetic Regulation in Gene Expression

In higher eukaryotes, a vast variety of RNAs are transcribed from genomic DNAs. The transcribed RNAs are subjected to RNA splicing in order to produce mRNAs and non-coding RNAs. Splicing includes constitutive and alternative splicing, but interestingly, it has been shown that about 95% of human genes undergo alternative splicing. There are accumulating lines of evidence that the epigenetic modifications in DNAs, histones, and RNAs regulate RNA processing steps by influencing the transcription elongation rate of RNA polymerase II or by recruiting specific splicing regulators via different adaptors. In addition, it has been suggested that RNA processing steps reversely affect epigenetics by recruiting histone modifiers. Moreover, the defects in RNA processing steps and epigenetic regulation often result in diseases in human. However, the whole picture of this interplay and the molecular mechanisms of the disease onset remain to be elucidated.

As editors of research topic ‘Interplay Between RNA Processing Machinery and Epigenetic Regulation in Gene Expression,' we expect submissions from seasoned researchers working on both RNA processing and epigenetics in order to connect these two fundamental but important regulatory steps in gene expression. The highlight of this topic is not restricted to basic research of molecular mechanisms of interplay between RNA regulation and epigenetics. Research of clinical and translational approaches toward therapies for diseases caused by mis-regulation in splicing and epigenetics are also very welcome.

The format of submission in this Topic includes Original Research, Reviews and Mini Reviews, Perspectives/Opinions, and Methods articles.