Long non-coding RNA: its evolutionary relics and biological implications in mammals: a review
Open Access
- 25 October 2018
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Journal of Animal Science and Technology
- Vol. 60 (1), 1-10
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s40781-018-0183-7
Abstract
The central dogma of gene expression propounds that DNA is transcribed to mRNA and finally gets translated into protein. Only 2–3% of the genomic DNA is transcribed to protein-coding mRNA. Interestingly, only a further minuscule part of genomic DNA encodes for long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) which are characteristically more than 200 nucleotides long and can be transcribed from both protein-coding (e.g. H19 and TUG1) as well as non-coding DNA by RNA polymerase II. The lncRNAs do not have open reading frames (with some exceptions), 3`-untranslated regions (3’-UTRs) and necessarily these RNAs lack any translation-termination regions, however, these can be spliced, capped and polyadenylated as mRNA molecules. The flexibility of lncRNAs confers them specific 3D-conformations that eventually enable the lncRNAs to interact with proteins, DNA or other RNA molecules via base pairing or by forming networks. The lncRNAs play a major role in gene regulation, cell differentiation, cancer cell invasion and metastasis and chromatin remodeling. Deregulation of lncRNA is also responsible for numerous diseases in mammals. Various studies have revealed their significance as biomarkers for prognosis and diagnosis of cancer. The aim of this review is to overview the salient features, evolution, biogenesis and biological importance of these molecules in the mammalian system.Keywords
Funding Information
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University (US) (AAB-009)
This publication has 112 references indexed in Scilit:
- Mutations within lncRNAs are effectively selected against in fruitfly but not in humanGenome Biology, 2013
- The H19 lincRNA is a developmental reservoir of miR-675 that suppresses growth and Igf1rNature, 2012
- The evolution of RNAs with multiple functionsBiochimie, 2011
- Molecular Mechanisms of Long Noncoding RNAsMolecular Cell, 2011
- Transcriptome sequencing across a prostate cancer cohort identifies PCAT-1, an unannotated lincRNA implicated in disease progressionNature Biotechnology, 2011
- Molecular Interplay of the Noncoding RNA ANRIL and Methylated Histone H3 Lysine 27 by Polycomb CBX7 in Transcriptional Silencing of INK4aMolecular Cell, 2010
- Long non-coding RNA HOTAIR reprograms chromatin state to promote cancer metastasisNature, 2010
- Evolution and Functions of Long Noncoding RNAsCell, 2009
- Human Alu RNA Is a Modular Transacting Repressor of mRNA Transcription during Heat ShockMolecular Cell, 2008
- Identification and analysis of functional elements in 1% of the human genome by the ENCODE pilot projectNature, 2007