lncRNAs: insights into their function and mechanics in underlying disorders

Area of Science:

• Genomics and Molecular Biology
• Noncoding RNA Research
• Gene Regulation

Background:

• Complex genomes express pervasive noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) over 200 nucleotides.
• lncRNAs are encoded by a significant genomic proportion, but their functions remain largely unknown.
• lncRNAs exhibit diverse regulatory roles in gene expression, acting as signals, decoys, scaffolds, or guides.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of lncRNA genomic contexts, biological functions, and mechanisms of action.
• To highlight the growing evidence linking lncRNA dysregulation and mutations to human diseases, especially aging-related disorders.
• To discuss the potential medical implications and future applications of lncRNAs as therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on lncRNAs.
• Analysis of genomic contexts, biological functions, and mechanisms of lncRNAs.
• Examination of evidence linking lncRNAs to human diseases and aging.

Main Results:

• lncRNAs play multifaceted roles in regulating transcription via chromatin modulation and potentially post-transcriptional processing.
• Long intergenic ncRNAs (lincRNAs) are enriched for trait-associated SNPs, suggesting roles in intergenic region function.
• lncRNA mutations and dysregulations are increasingly associated with various human diseases, notably aging-related conditions.

Conclusions:

• lncRNAs are critical regulators of gene expression with diverse mechanisms and functions.
• The link between lncRNA dysregulation and human diseases, particularly aging, is substantial and warrants further investigation.
• lncRNAs hold significant promise as future therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers for various disorders.