Long non coding rna

In recent years there has been a major change in the conception of genome regulation. We now know that most of the cell's transcripts are generated from "non-conventional" genes that do not encode proteinsand a very significant part of them give rise to evooli non-coding RNA molecules lncRNAs, long non coding rna. Despite not coding for proteins, lncRNAs regulate genome functions and gene expression, and their alterations are inherent to diseases.

Molecular Cancer volume 10 , Article number: 38 Cite this article. Metrics details. Long non-coding RNAs lncRNAs are emerging as new players in the cancer paradigm demonstrating potential roles in both oncogenic and tumor suppressive pathways. These novel genes are frequently aberrantly expressed in a variety of human cancers, however the biological functions of the vast majority remain unknown. Recently, evidence has begun to accumulate describing the molecular mechanisms by which these RNA species function, providing insight into the functional roles they may play in tumorigenesis. In this review, we highlight the emerging functional role of lncRNAs in human cancer. The human transcriptome was found to be more complex than a collection of protein-coding genes and their splice variants; showing extensive antisense, overlapping and non-coding RNA ncRNA expression [ 5 — 10 ].

Long non coding rna

Long non-coding transcripts are found in many species. It has been suggested through multiple studies that testis , [8] and neural tissues express the greatest amount of long non-coding RNAs of any tissue type. In comparison to mammals relatively few studies have focused on the prevalence of lncRNAs in plants. In the landscape of the mammalian genome was described as numerous 'foci' of transcription that are separated by long stretches of intergenic space. The GENCODE consortium has collated and analysed a comprehensive set of human lncRNA annotations and their genomic organisation, modifications, cellular locations and tissue expression profiles. There has been considerable debate about whether lncRNAs have been misannotated and do in fact encode proteins. Several lncRNAs have been found to in fact encode for peptides with biologically significant function. However, further investigations into vertebrate lncRNAs revealed that while lncRNAs are conserved in sequence, they are not conserved in transcription. Some argue that these observations suggest non-functionality of the majority of lncRNAs, [43] [44] [45] while others argue that they may be indicative of rapid species -specific adaptive selection. While the turnover of lncRNA transcription is much higher than initially expected, it is important to note that still, hundreds of lncRNAs are conserved at the sequence level. There have been several attempts to delineate the different categories of selection signatures seen amongst lncRNAs including: lncRNAs with strong sequence conservation across the entire length of the gene , lncRNAs in which only a portion of the transcript e.

The first published report of an alteration in lncRNA abundance in aging and human neurological disease was provided by Lukiw et al. Phase separation drives heterochromatin domain formation. Many human large intergenic noncoding RNAs associate with chromatin-modifying complexes and affect gene expression.

The development and application of whole genome sequencing technology has greatly broadened our horizons on the capabilities of long non-coding RNAs lncRNAs. LncRNAs are more than nucleotides in length and lack protein-coding potential. Increasing evidence indicates that lncRNAs exert an irreplaceable role in tumor initiation, progression, as well as metastasis, and are novel molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients. Furthermore, lncRNAs and the pathways they influence might represent promising therapeutic targets for a number of tumors. Here, we discuss the recent advances in understanding of the specific regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs.

Thank you for visiting nature. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer. In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. An Author Correction to this article was published on 08 January Evidence accumulated over the past decade shows that long non-coding RNAs lncRNAs are widely expressed and have key roles in gene regulation. Recent studies have begun to unravel how the biogenesis of lncRNAs is distinct from that of mRNAs and is linked with their specific subcellular localizations and functions. Depending on their localization and their specific interactions with DNA, RNA and proteins, lncRNAs can modulate chromatin function, regulate the assembly and function of membraneless nuclear bodies, alter the stability and translation of cytoplasmic mRNAs and interfere with signalling pathways. Many of these functions ultimately affect gene expression in diverse biological and physiopathological contexts, such as in neuronal disorders, immune responses and cancer.

Long non coding rna

They are now understood to play central roles in diverse cellular processes from proliferation and migration to differentiation, senescence and DNA damage control. LncRNAs are classed as transcripts longer than nucleotides that do not encode a peptide. They are relevant to many physiological and pathophysiological processes through their control of fundamental molecular functions. This review summarises the recent progress in lncRNA research and highlights the far-reaching physiological relevance of lncRNAs. The main areas of lncRNA research encompassing their characterisation, classification and mechanisms of action will be discussed. This will be exemplified with a selected number of lncRNAs that have been described in numerous physiological contexts and that should be largely representative of the tens-of-thousands of mammalian lncRNAs. Joshua M.

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Expression analyses that compare tumor cells and normal cells have revealed changes in the expression of ncRNAs in several forms of cancer. Science —9. However, further investigations into vertebrate lncRNAs revealed that while lncRNAs are conserved in sequence, they are not conserved in transcription. Genome Research. The MALAT1 gene, or metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 , was first associated with high metastatic potential and poor patient prognosis during a comparative screen of non-small cell lung cancer patients with and without metastatic tumors [ ]. St Laurent, G. RNAcentral Consortium. Semin Cancer Biol. LncBook: a curated knowledgebase of human long non-coding RNAs. The activity of human enhancers is modulated by the splicing of their associated lncRNAs. Transcription organizes euchromatin via microphase separation. Flynn, R. Schmitt, A. It has been widely reported that cancer-specific miRNAs are detectable in the blood, sputum and urine of cancer patients [ — ].

Long non-coding transcripts are found in many species. It has been suggested through multiple studies that testis , [8] and neural tissues express the greatest amount of long non-coding RNAs of any tissue type.

Jawdekar, G. Aberrant lncRNA expression participates in carcinogenesis by disrupting major biological processes, such as redirecting chromatin remodeling complexes or inactivating major tumor suppressor genes. Patop, I. Plant Physiol. Post-transcriptional regulation of long noncoding RNAs in cancer. A long noncoding RNA contributes to neuropathic pain by silencing Kcna2 in primary afferent neurons. For the lncRNA field, it is essential to establish a variety of databases meant to help researchers identify and name their newly discovered lncRNAs. This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. Disordered domains in chromatin-binding proteins. Int J Mol Sci 18 6 Wutz, A. Yin, Y. Regulatory sequences, including promoters and lncRNAs, are known to evolve rapidly due to more relaxed structure—function constraints than protein-coding sequences and due to positive selection during adaptive radiation 85 , 90 , 91 , Du, Q. Front Biosci.