Long noncoding RNA GM12371 acts as a transcriptional regulator of synapse function

Despite the growing evidence suggesting that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical regulators of several biological processes, their functions in the nervous system remain elusive. We have identified an lncRNA, GM12371, in hippocampal neurons that is enriched in the nucleus and necessary for synaptic communication, synapse density, synapse morphology, and dendritic tree complexity. Mechanistically, GM12371 regulates the expression of several genes involved in neuronal development and differentiation, as well as expression of specific lncRNAs and their cognate mRNA targets. Furthermore, we find that cAMP-PKA signaling up-regulates the expression of GM12371 and that its expression is essential for the activity-dependent changes in synaptic transmission in hippocampal neurons. Taken together, our data establish a key role for GM12371 in regulating synapse function.