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Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs were once considered as "junk" RNA produced by
aberrant DNA transcription. They are now understood to play central
roles in diverse cellular processes from proliferation and migration to
differentiation, senescence and DNA damage control. LncRNAs are classed
as transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that do not encode a peptide.
They are relevant to many physiological and pathophysiological processes
through their control of fundamental molecular functions. This review
summarises the recent progress in lncRNA research and highlights the
far-reaching physiological relevance of lncRNAs. The main areas of
lncRNA research encompassing their characterisation, classification and
mechanisms of action will be discussed. In particular, the regulation of
gene expression and chromatin landscape through lncRNA control of
proteins, DNA and other RNAs will be introduced. This will be
exemplified with a selected number of lncRNAs that have been described
in numerous physiological contexts and that should be largely
representative of the tens-of-thousands of mammalian lncRNAs. To some
extent, these lncRNAs have inspired the current thinking on the central
dogmas of epigenetics, RNA and DNA mechanisms.