Chapter 10 - Long noncoding RNA and epigenetic inheritance

Abstract

The recent years have witnessed an immense interest in the study of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). Though considered as “junk” RNA at the outset, lncRNA have now attained considerable attention because of the identification of their widespread expression in various physiological and pathological processes. It is now well understood that lncRNAs play a crucial role in many processes, including germ cell development. The high-throughput technologies and availabilities of large data sets from many normal and pathological tissues brought a new light on the function of lncRNAs. In this review, we will address the possible roles of lncRNAs in transgenerational inheritance based on recent discoveries of lncRNA's ability to impact germ cell development, with particular emphasis on epigenetic processes. Specifically, we will focus on the properties of lncRNAs that make these RNA species attractive candidates for important regulatory roles in transgenerational inheritance in mammals.