Long noncoding RNAs, emerging players in muscle differentiation and disease

Maria Victoria Neguembor,Davide Gabellini,Mathivanan Jothi

doi:10.1186/2044-5040-4-8

Maria Victoria Neguembor, Davide Gabellini + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/2044-5040-4-8

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Journal: Skeletal Muscle	Publication Date: Mar 31, 2014
Citations: 199	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Dulbecco Telethon Institute

Abstract

The vast majority of the mammalian genome is transcribed giving rise to many different types of noncoding RNAs. Among them, long noncoding RNAs are the most numerous and functionally versatile class. Indeed, the lncRNA repertoire might be as rich as the proteome. LncRNAs have emerged as key regulators of gene expression at multiple levels. They play important roles in the regulation of development, differentiation and maintenance of cell identity and they also contribute to disease. In this review, we present recent advances in the biology of lncRNAs in muscle development and differentiation. We will also discuss the contribution of lncRNAs to muscle disease with a particular focus on Duchenne and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophies.

Highlights

The vast majority of the mammalian genome is transcribed giving rise to many different types of noncoding RNAs
Small non protein-coding RNA (ncRNA) are below 200 bp and include transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA, small nuclear RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs, microRNAs, small interference RNA (siRNA) and Piwi-interacting RNAs [3,4,5,6,7]
Since long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) are localized both in the nucleus and the cytosol, they can act at virtually every level of gene expression [17,18]

Summary

Introduction

A particular class of cytoplasmic lncRNAs, the competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA), regulates both the translation and the degradation rates of mRNAs by acting as molecular sponges for miRNAs, modulating the repressive activity of miRNA on their mRNA targets (Figure 1H) [45,46,47,48,49]. While the CERNA functions in cis to activate expression of MyoD, DRRRNA works in trans to promote MyoG transcription and muscle differentiation (Figure 2A). These findings suggest that eRNAs regulate myogenesis by directing chromatin-remodeling events, Figure 2 Distinct roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in muscle differentiation.

Results

Conclusion