gene silencing by siRNA-directed DNA methylation
A small RNA-based gene silencing process in which small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) guide DNA methylation to the siRNA-generating genomic loci and other loci that are homologous to the siRNAs for de novo DNA methylation. This results in a heterochromatin assembly, a chromatin conformation that is refractory to transcription. In general this process consists of three phases: biogenesis of siRNAs, scaffold RNA production, and the formation of the guiding complex that recruits de novo DNA methyltransferases to the target loci. Transposable elements are silenced by this mechanism.
GO:0006346
DNA methylation-dependent constitutive heterochromatin formation
is_a
GO:0141194
siRNA-mediated heterochromatin formation
is_a
RNA-directed DNA methylation
related
RdDM
exact
gene silencing by RNA-directed DNA methylation
related