Abstract
Most of the genome is transcribed into non-coding transcripts that far exceed in number the transcripts of protein-coding genes. These RNAs are subdivided into different classes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are at least 200 nucleotides in length and are transcribed from promoter, coding, intergenic or enhancer regions (eRNAs). These RNAs repress or enhance the transcription of target genes by facilitating the interaction between promoters and enhancers or by interacting with transcription factors and targeting histone-modifying enzymes. Short non-coding RNAs include a diverse group of functional types: miRNAs (micro RNAs) and siRNAs (small interfering RNAs) are negative regulators of gene expression; piRNAs (Piwi-interacting RNAs) suppress the action of transposable elements in the germline; snRNAs (small nuclear RNAs) are involved in mRNA splicing and rRNA maturation; tRNA-derived non-coding RNAs are involved in the cellular reaction to stress and in the repression of gene function. Additional short RNAs are rasiRNAs (repeat-associated small interfering RNAs) that appear to be involved in centromeric heterochromatin formation.
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