RNA regulatory networks in animals and plants: a long noncoding RNA perspective

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• RNA Biology

Background:

• Genomics research has identified numerous functional transcripts that do not code for proteins.
• Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), longer than 200 nucleotides, represent a significant class of these non-protein-coding transcripts, originating from thousands of genomic loci.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review progress in understanding the biogenesis and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs.
• To summarize current knowledge on functional elements within lncRNAs and their regulatory networks.
• To present findings from genome-wide studies of lncRNAs in plants, focusing on stress-responsive lncRNAs.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on lncRNA research.
• Description of computational and high-throughput technologies for lncRNA identification and study.
• Analysis of genome-wide studies and specific examples of plant lncRNAs.

Main Results:

• lncRNAs play diverse roles in gene regulation across species.
• Functional elements are embedded within lncRNAs, contributing to their regulatory capacity.
• lncRNAs are involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants.

Conclusions:

• lncRNAs are crucial components of gene regulation in animals and plants.
• Further research into lncRNA biogenesis, function, and regulatory networks is essential.
• Understanding stress-responsive lncRNAs in plants has implications for agriculture and stress tolerance.