RNA interference and heterochromatin in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
Fission yeast is a useful model for RNA interference because it has single-copy genes for components of the RNAi pathway such as argonaute, dicer and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP). Functions for RNAi revealed in S. pombe, such as heterochromatic silencing and chromosome segregation, are likely to be ancient because they are shared with some other eukaryotes. The underlying mechanisms are being rapidly unraveled.
Martienssen RA, Zaratiegui M, Goto DB