[Inheritance of RNA-directed epigenetic modifications of chromatin].

Published data are reviewed on the mechanism of inheritance of repressive epigenetic modifications of chromatin, histone and DNA, which suggest that they depend on RNA. RNA is transcribed from most of genome compartments and when it forms duplex structures because of overlapping transcription or because of resynthesis by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, heterochromatin is generated. Mitotic phosphorylation of Ser-10 in histone H3 stimulates transcription of heterochromatin and its recovery in the next cell cycle by RNA interference.