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Updated: Jan 19, 2026
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Long Non-coding RNAs: Chromatin Modification, Cell Differentiation & Immune Response
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Functional Conservation of LncRNA JPX Despite Sequence and Structural Divergence
Heather Karner1, Chiu-Ho Webb1, Sarah Carmona1
1Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Journal of Molecular Biology
|September 14, 2019
Summary
Human long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) JPX functionally complements its mouse counterpart, Jpx, in embryonic stem cells. This suggests conserved lncRNA function despite sequence divergence, offering insights into lncRNA evolution.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abundant in humans, but their functions and mechanisms remain largely uncharacterized.
- Understanding lncRNA evolution is crucial for deciphering their biological roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolution and molecular function of the human lncRNA JPX.
- To explore functional conservation of lncRNAs despite sequence and structural divergence.
Main Methods:
- Comparative sequence and structural analyses of human JPX and mouse Jpx.
- Functional characterization of JPX-CTCF binding.
- Functional rescue experiments in mouse embryonic stem cells lacking Jpx.
Main Results:
- Human JPX and mouse Jpx exhibit significant sequence and structural divergence.
- Both JPX and Jpx bind to CTCF, a protein involved in X chromosome inactivation.
- Human JPX can rescue the function of Jpx in mouse embryonic stem cells.
Conclusions:
- lncRNA function can be conserved across species despite substantial sequence and structural differences.
- This study provides mechanistic insights into the evolution of lncRNA function, particularly JPX.
- Findings support a model of functional conservation independent of sequence evolution.
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