No abstract

Thousands of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes are encoded in the human genome, and hundreds of them are evolutionarily conserved, but their functions and modes of action remain largely obscure. Particularly enigmatic lncRNAs are those that are exported to the cytoplasm, including NORAD—an abundant and highly conserved cytoplasmic lncRNA. Here we show that most of the sequence of NORAD is comprised of repetitive units that together contain at least 17 functional binding sites for the two mammalian Pumilio homologues. Through binding to PUM1 and PUM2, NORAD modulates the mRNA levels of their targets, which are enriched for genes involved in chromosome segregation during cell division. Our results suggest that some cytoplasmic lncRNAs function by modulating the activities of RNA-binding proteins, an activity which positions them at key junctions of cellular signalling pathways.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) constitute the majority of transcripts in the mammalian genomes, and yet, their functions remain largely unknown. As part of the FANTOM6 project, we systematically knocked down the expression of 285 lncRNAs in human dermal fibroblasts and quantified cellular growth, morphological changes, and transcriptomic responses using Capped Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE). Antisense oligonucleotides targeting the same lncRNAs exhibited global concordance, and the molecular phenotype, measured by CAGE, recapitulated the observed cellular phenotypes while providing additional insights on the affected genes and pathways. Here, we disseminate the largest-todate lncRNA knockdown data set with molecular phenotyping (over 1000 CAGE deep-sequencing libraries) for further exploration and highlight functional roles for ZNF213-AS1 and lnc-KHDC3L-2.

Chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 2 (Chd2) is a chromatin remodeller implicated in neurological disease. Here we show that Chaserr, a highly conserved long noncoding RNA transcribed from a region near the transcription start site of Chd2 and on the same strand, acts in concert with the CHD2 protein to maintain proper Chd2 expression levels. Loss of Chaserr in mice leads to early postnatal lethality in homozygous mice, and severe growth retardation in heterozygotes. Mechanistically, loss of Chaserr leads to substantially increased Chd2 mRNA and protein levels, which in turn lead to transcriptional interference by inhibiting promoters found downstream of highly expressed genes. We further show that Chaserr production represses Chd2 expression solely in cis, and that the phenotypic consequences of Chaserr loss are rescued when Chd2 is perturbed as well. Targeting Chaserr is thus a potential strategy for increasing CHD2 levels in haploinsufficient individuals.

Active enhancers in mammals produce enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), that are bidirectionally transcribed, unspliced, and unstable noncoding RNAs. Enhancer regions are also enriched with long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes, which are typically spliced and are longer and substantially more stable than eRNAs. In order to explore the relationship between these two classes of RNAs and the implications of lncRNA transcription on enhancer functionality, we analyzed DNAse hypersensitive sites with evidence of bidirectional transcription, which we termed eRNA producing centers (EPCs). A subset of EPCs, which are found very close to the transcription start site of lncRNA genes, exhibit attributes of both enhancers and promoters, including distinctive DNA motifs and a characteristic landscape of bound proteins. These EPCs are associated with a subset of relatively highly active enhancers. This stronger enhancer activity is driven, at least in part, by the presence of evolutionary conserved, directional splicing signals that promote lncRNA production, pointing at a causal role of lncRNA processing in enhancer activity. Together, our results suggest a model whereby the ability of some enhancers to produce lncRNAs, which is conserved in evolution, enhances their activity in a manner likely mediated through maturation of the associated lncRNA.