LncRNAs: the art of being influential without protein

• Published in: Trends in plant science 2024-07, Vol.29 (7), p.770-785
• Main Authors: Gonzales, Lorena Ramírez, Blom, Suze, Henriques, Rossana, Bachem, Christian W.B., Immink, Richard G.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: genome dynamics; lncRNA; mammalian research; molecular interactions; RNA biology
• ISSN: 1360-1385; 1878-4372; 1878-4372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.01.006

We can learn from the mechanistic understanding of the functions of long noncoding (lnc)RNA by exploring research in the mammalian field.LncRNAs are associated with a plethora of specific silencing and activating chromatin-remodeling events.Plant lncRNAs in R-loops could affect local chromatin remodeling and transcription in response to environmental conditions, representing a dynamic adaptation mechanism.LncRNAs can modulate alternative splicing events through competition with pre-mRNAs and by post-transcriptional regulation of the alternative splicing machinery.The long-distance transport capability of lncRNAs makes them interesting candidates to investigate as novel hormone-like molecules.Many of the characterized plant lncRNAs modulate genes associated with important agricultural traits, providing opportunities for the development of lncRNA-based biomarkers with breeding applications. The plant long noncoding (lnc)RNA field is on the brink of transitioning from large-scale identification of lncRNAs to their functional characterization. Due to the cross-kingdom conservation of interaction types and molecular functions, there is much to be learned from mammalian lncRNA research. Here, we discuss the different molecular processes involving lncRNAs from the regulation of chromatin to splicing. Furthermore, we discuss the lncRNA interactome, which includes proteins, other RNAs, and DNA. We explore and discuss how mammalian lncRNA functionalities could be reflected in similar pathways in plants and hypothesize that several breakthroughs in mammalian research could lead to the discovery of novel plant lncRNA molecular functions. Expanding our knowledge of the biological role of lncRNAs and their multiple applications paves the way for future agricultural applications. The plant long noncoding (lnc)RNA field is on the brink of transitioning from large-scale identification of lncRNAs to their functional characterization. Due to the cross-kingdom conservation of interaction types and molecular functions, there is much to be learned from mammalian lncRNA research. Here, we discuss the different molecular processes involving lncRNAs from the regulation of chromatin to splicing. Furthermore, we discuss the lncRNA interactome, which includes proteins, other RNAs, and DNA. We explore and discuss how mammalian lncRNA functionalities could be reflected in similar pathways in plants and hypothesize that several breakthroughs in mammalian research could lead to the disco