Molecular Mechanisms of Long Noncoding RNAs

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an important class of pervasive genes involved in a variety of biological functions. Here we discuss the emerging archetypes of molecular functions that lncRNAs execute—as signals, decoys, guides, and scaffolds. For each archetype, examples from several disparate bi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular cell 2011-09, Vol.43 (6), p.904-914
Main Authors: Wang, Kevin C., Chang, Howard Y.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Chromatin - metabolism
evolution
genes
Humans
Models, Genetic
non-coding RNA
prediction
Pseudogenes - physiology
RNA Polymerase II - physiology
RNA Stability
RNA, Untranslated - chemistry
RNA, Untranslated - metabolism
RNA, Untranslated - physiology
signal transduction
Telomerase - metabolism
Telomere - chemistry
Telomere - genetics
Transcription, Genetic
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Summary:Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an important class of pervasive genes involved in a variety of biological functions. Here we discuss the emerging archetypes of molecular functions that lncRNAs execute—as signals, decoys, guides, and scaffolds. For each archetype, examples from several disparate biological contexts illustrate the commonality of the molecular mechanisms, and these mechanistic views provide useful explanations and predictions of biological outcomes. These archetypes of lncRNA function may be a useful framework to consider how lncRNAs acquire properties as biological signal transducers and hint at their possible origins in evolution. As new lncRNAs are being discovered at a rapid pace, the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs are likely to be enriched and diversified.
ISSN:1097-2765
1097-4164
DOI:10.1016/j.molcel.2011.08.018