Long noncoding RNA：unveiling hidden layer of gene regulatory networks.pdf

Review Long noncoding RNA: unveiling hidden layer of gene regulatory networks Eun-Deok Kim and Sibum Sung Section of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recog- siRNAs) that are less than 200 nucleotides in general. nized as functional regulatory components in eukaryotic Although the cutoff is arbitrary, longer than 200 nucleotide gene regulation. Distinct classes of lncRNAs have been ncRNAs are generally considered as lncRNAs [2,9,10]. Sev- identified in eukaryotes and they play roles in various eral lncRNAs have been known for decades, but it is not until regulatory networks. Previously characterized lncRNAs recently that lncRNAs have emerged as potent regulators. include primary transcripts for small regulatory RNAs. In Classic regulatory lncRNAs include Xist (X-inactive specific the era of deep sequencing, new classes of lncRNAs have transcript), Air and Kcnq1ot1 from mammals, and they are emerged as potent regulatory components in gene reg- required for various epigenetic regulations of gene expres- ulation. Recent studies showed that many lncRNAs are sion [11– 13]. As exemplified from Tsix and RepA ncRNAs in potent cis- and trans-regulators of gene activity and they X-chromosome inactivation (X inactivation), some lncRNAs can function as scaffolds for chromatin-modifying com- act in cis to function through recruitment of chromatin- plexes. Furthermore, differential expressions of lncRNAs modifying complexes [13]. Some long intergenic ncRNAs suggest that transcription of lncRNAs can modulate (lincRNAs), including p53-activated lincRNA-p21, target gene activit