Long noncoding RNAs: regulation, function and cancer

Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2018 Oct;34(2):153-180. doi: 10.1080/02648725.2018.1471566. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-protein-coding RNA transcripts that exert a key role in many cellular processes and have potential toward addressing disease etiology. Here, we review existing noncoding RNA classes and then describe a variety of mechanisms and functions by which lncRNAs regulate gene expression such as chromatin remodeling, genomic imprinting, gene transcription and post-transcriptional processing. We also examine several lncRNAs that contribute significantly to pathogenesis, oncogenesis, tumor suppression and cell cycle arrest of diverse cancer types and also give a summary of the pathways that lncRNAs might be involved in.

Keywords: LncRNA; cancer; gene regulation; molecular mechanism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genomic Imprinting
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding