1999/10/29 by Andrew J. Hamilton, David C. Baulcombe · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Plant Virus Research Studies #CRISPR and Genetic Engineering #Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
paper · doi:10.1126/science.286.5441.950
openalex publication_date 1999/10/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS) is a nucleotide sequence-specific defense mechanism that can target both cellular and viral mRNAs. Here, three types of transgene-induced PTGS and one example of virus-induced PTGS were analyzed in plants. In each case, antisense RNA complementary to the targeted mRNA was detected. These RNA molecules were of a uniform length, estimated at 25 nucleotides, and their accumulation required either transgene sense transcription or RNA virus replication. Thus, the 25-nucleotide antisense RNA is likely synthesized from an RNA template and may represent the specificity determinant of PTGS.