The trans-acting potential of expanded repeat RNA.

Repeat RNAs from C9orf72 are linked to genome interactions in trans, indicating that expanded repeat RNA sequences and structures may contribute to pathogenic mechanisms.

• Why it matters: In some repeat expansion disorders, nuclear dysfunction spreads beyond the original locus, but the mechanisms driving this trans effect are not well understood.
• What they did: Prior work on C9orf72 examined how repeat RNAs can interact with the genome in trans, motivating similar investigation in other repeat expansion disorders.
• The result: The findings suggest that disease-specific repeat RNA sequences and structures may help explain nuclear dysfunction beyond the originating locus in a subset of these disorders.

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