Mechanisms and Functions of Long Non-Coding RNAs at Multiple Regulatory Levels

Fafu Shen,Xiaopei Zhang,Yingying Cheng,Jie Dong,Weidong Zhu,Wei Wang,Zujun Yin

doi:10.3390/ijms20225573

Abstract

Long non-coding (lnc) RNAs are non-coding RNAs longer than 200 nt. lncRNAs primarily interact with mRNA, DNA, protein, and miRNA and consequently regulate gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels in a variety of ways. They play important roles in biological processes such as chromatin remodeling, transcriptional activation, transcriptional interference, RNA processing, and mRNA translation. lncRNAs have important functions in plant growth and development; biotic and abiotic stress responses; and in regulation of cell differentiation, the cell cycle, and the occurrence of many diseases in humans and animals. In this review, we summarize the functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs in plants, humans, and animals at different regulatory levels.

Highlights

Long non-coding RNA transcripts are longer than 200 nt in length and have no protein-coding ability; they may have short open reading frames (ORFs)
4. lncRNAs Involved in the Process of Transcriptional Regulation lncRNAs directly participate in the regulation of transcription itself, a process that primarily occurs in the nucleus. lncRNAs participate in regulation of transcription in many ways. lncRNAs directly bind DNA sequences and inhibit gene transcription; in addition, they directly interact with proteins and inhibit or activate the expression of downstream genes (Figure 1E,F)
Conclusions and Perspectives lncRNAs account for 80% of ncRNA, have no protein-coding function, and play roles as RNA molecules. lncRNAs participate in regulation at the epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels in the form of RNA

Summary

Introduction

Long non-coding (lnc) RNA transcripts are longer than 200 nt in length and have no protein-coding ability; they may have short open reading frames (ORFs). LncRNAs regulate histone methylation, thereby affecting gene transcription, primarily in two ways: by regulating histone methyltransferases or demethylases or by recruiting chromatin-modifying complexes (such as polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) [27] and COMPASS-like complex [28]) to the chromatin region (Figure 1A).

Results

Conclusion