RNAi and chromatin in T cell development and function.

Small noncoding RNAs including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of gene expression. They control transcription through changing the structure of chromatin and regulate mRNA stability and translation at the post-transcriptional level. This year has seen exciting progress in our ability to map chromatin structure and chromatin-associated factors genome-wide as well as striking examples how individual miRNAs affect the development and the function of the immune system.