Non-coding RNAs: Classification, Biology and Functioning

Abstract

One of the long-standing principles of molecular biology is that DNA acts as a template for transcription of messenger RNAs, which serve as blueprints for protein translation. A rapidly growing number of exceptions to this rule have been reported over the past decades: they include long known classes of RNAs involved in translation such as transfer RNAs and ribosomal RNAs, small nuclear RNAs involved in splicing events, and small nucleolar RNAs mainly involved in the modification of other small RNAs, such as ribosomal RNAs and transfer RNAs. More recently, several classes of short regulatory non-coding RNAs, including piwi-associated RNAs, endogenous short-interfering RNAs and microRNAs have been discovered in mammals, which act as key regulators of gene expression in many different cellular pathways and systems. Additionally, the human genome encodes several thousand long non-protein coding RNAs >200 nucleotides in length, some of which play crucial roles in a variety of biological processes such as epigenetic control of chromatin, promoter-specific gene regulation, mRNA stability, X-chromosome inactivation and imprinting. In this chapter, we will introduce several classes of short and long non-coding RNAs, describe their diverse roles in mammalian gene regulation and give examples for known modes of action.

Plasma lncRNA GAS8-AS1 as a Potential Biomarker of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Chinese Patients

“…Many studies have demonstrated the diverse cellular functions of lncRNAs including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell apoptosis, and carcinogenesis [13]. Several studies demonstrated that circulating lncRNAs are potential diagnostic biomarkers for several types of cancer [14].…”

Long noncoding RNA HOXB13‐AS1 regulates HOXB13 gene methylation by interacting with EZH2 in glioma

“…Recently, with the advanced development of large‐scale technology, a growing number of observations have determined that numerous noncoding sequences occupy more than 90% of the human genome . Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), as a class of the noncoding RNA molecules, are greater than 200 nucleotides in length with limited protein coding capacity .…”

Comparative analyses of long non-coding RNA in lean and obese pigs

“…In the past, lncRNAs were considered to be “evolutionary junk” or transcriptional “noise” along with other non-coding RNAs [2, 3]. However, in recent years, as the rapid development of technologies has facilitated analysis of the “transcriptome”, there is increasing evidence that lncRNAs play a crucial role in many biological processes [4, 5], such as telomere homeostasis and chromosome replication [6–8], control of nuclear architecture and translation [9], X-chromosome inactivation [10], regulation of epigenetic modifications [11], control of mRNA and protein stability [12, 13], and regulation of miRNA activity [14, 15]. As research into lncRNA increased, many databases were established and included lncRNA data for both domesticated animals and poultry.…”