New and Prospective Roles for lncRNAs in Organelle Formation and Function

The observation that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent the majority of transcripts in humans has led to a rapid increase in interest and study. Most of this interest has focused on their roles in the nucleus. However, increasing evidence is beginning to reveal even more functions outside the nucleus, and even outside cells. Many of these roles are mediated by newly discovered properties, including the ability of lncRNAs to interact with lipids, membranes, and disordered protein domains, and to form differentially soluble RNA-protein sub-organelles. This review explores the possibilities enabled by these new properties and abilities, such as likely roles in exosome formation and function.