Epigenetic regulation by long noncoding RNAs

JT Lee - Science, 2012 - science.org
JT Lee
Science, 2012science.org
Recent studies show that transcription of the mammalian genome is not only pervasive but
also enormously complex. It is estimated that an average of 10 transcription units, the vast
majority of which make long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), may overlap each traditional
coding gene. These lncRNAs include not only antisense, intronic, and intergenic transcripts
but also pseudogenes and retrotransposons. Do they universally have function, or are they
merely transcriptional by-products of conventional coding genes? A glimpse into the …
Recent studies show that transcription of the mammalian genome is not only pervasive but also enormously complex. It is estimated that an average of 10 transcription units, the vast majority of which make long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), may overlap each traditional coding gene. These lncRNAs include not only antisense, intronic, and intergenic transcripts but also pseudogenes and retrotransposons. Do they universally have function, or are they merely transcriptional by-products of conventional coding genes? A glimpse into the molecular biology of multiple emerging lncRNA systems reveals the “Wild West” landscape of their functions and mechanisms and the key problems to solve in the years ahead toward understanding these intriguing macromolecules.
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