1
|
Ferrer J, Dimitrova N. Transcription regulation by long non-coding RNAs: mechanisms and disease relevance. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:396-415. [PMID: 38242953 PMCID: PMC11045326 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00694-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) outnumber protein-coding transcripts, but their functions remain largely unknown. In this Review, we discuss the emerging roles of lncRNAs in the control of gene transcription. Some of the best characterized lncRNAs have essential transcription cis-regulatory functions that cannot be easily accomplished by DNA-interacting transcription factors, such as XIST, which controls X-chromosome inactivation, or imprinted lncRNAs that direct allele-specific repression. A growing number of lncRNA transcription units, including CHASERR, PVT1 and HASTER (also known as HNF1A-AS1) act as transcription-stabilizing elements that fine-tune the activity of dosage-sensitive genes that encode transcription factors. Genetic experiments have shown that defects in such transcription stabilizers often cause severe phenotypes. Other lncRNAs, such as lincRNA-p21 (also known as Trp53cor1) and Maenli (Gm29348) contribute to local activation of gene transcription, whereas distinct lncRNAs influence gene transcription in trans. We discuss findings of lncRNAs that elicit a function through either activation of their transcription, transcript elongation and processing or the lncRNA molecule itself. We also discuss emerging evidence of lncRNA involvement in human diseases, and their potential as therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Ferrer
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Nadya Dimitrova
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nemeth K, Bayraktar R, Ferracin M, Calin GA. Non-coding RNAs in disease: from mechanisms to therapeutics. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:211-232. [PMID: 37968332 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00662-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a heterogeneous group of transcripts that, by definition, are not translated into proteins. Since their discovery, ncRNAs have emerged as important regulators of multiple biological functions across a range of cell types and tissues, and their dysregulation has been implicated in disease. Notably, much research has focused on the link between microRNAs (miRNAs) and human cancers, although other ncRNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are also emerging as relevant contributors to human disease. In this Review, we summarize our current understanding of the roles of miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs in cancer and other major human diseases, notably cardiovascular, neurological and infectious diseases. Further, we discuss the potential use of ncRNAs as biomarkers of disease and as therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Nemeth
- Translational Molecular Pathology Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Recep Bayraktar
- Translational Molecular Pathology Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Manuela Ferracin
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - George A Calin
- Translational Molecular Pathology Department, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- The RNA Interference and Non-coding RNA Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Danga AK, Rath PC. Molecular cloning, expression and cellular localization of two long noncoding RNAs (mLINC-RBE and mLINC-RSAS) in the mouse testis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 255:128106. [PMID: 37979740 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcribed in complex, overlapping, sense- and antisense orientations from intronic and intergenic regions of mammalian genomes. Transcription of genome in mammalian testis is more widespread compared to other organs. LncRNAs are involved in gene expression, chromatin regulation, mRNA stability and translation of proteins during diverse cellular functions. We report molecular cloning of two novel lncRNAs (mLINC-RBE and mLINC-RSAS) and their expression by RT-PCR as well as cellular localization by RNA in-situ hybridization in the mouse testes. mLINC-RBE is an intergenic lncRNA from chromosome 4, with 16.96 % repeat sequences, expressed as a sense transcript with piRNA sequences and its expression is localized into primary spermatocytes. mLINC-RSAS is an intergenic lncRNA from chromosome 2, with 49.7 % repeat sequences, expressed as both sense- and antisense transcripts with miRNA sequences and its expression is localized into different cell types, such as Sertoli cells, primary spermatocytes and round spermatids. The lncRNAs also contain sequences for some short peptides (micropeptides). This suggests that these two repeat sequence containing, intergenic genomic sense- and antisense transcripts expressed as lncRNAs with piRNAs, miRNAs, and showing cell-type specific, differential expression may regulate important functions in mammalian testes. Such functions may be regulated by RNA structures, RNA processing and RNA-protein complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar Danga
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Pramod C Rath
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ben-Tov Perry R, Tsoory M, Tolmasov M, Ulitsky I. Silc1 long noncoding RNA is an immediate-early gene promoting efficient memory formation. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113168. [PMID: 37742186 PMCID: PMC10636608 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are expressed in many brain circuits and types of neurons; nevertheless, their functional significance for normal brain functions remains elusive. Here, we study the functions in the central nervous system of Silc1, an lncRNA we have shown previously to be important for neuronal regeneration in the peripheral nervous system. We found that Silc1 is rapidly and strongly induced in the hippocampus upon exposure to novelty and is required for efficient spatial learning. Silc1 production is important for induction of Sox11 (its cis-regulated target gene) throughout the CA1-CA3 regions and proper expression of key Sox11 target genes. Consistent with its role in neuronal plasticity, Silc1 levels decline during aging and in models of Alzheimer's disease. Overall, we describe a plasticity pathway in which Silc1 acts as an immediate-early gene to activate Sox11 and induce a neuronal growth-associated transcriptional program important for learning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Ben-Tov Perry
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| | - Michael Tsoory
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Michael Tolmasov
- Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Igor Ulitsky
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wu D, Dean J. Reduced female fertility due to sequestration of RNA Pol II by pervasive transcription in exosome RNase-depleted oocytes. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113247. [PMID: 37831603 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Perturbing the transcriptome of mammalian oocytes results in meiotic failure. We previously reported that RNA-exosome-associated RNase, EXOSC10, degrades unwanted protein-coding RNA and processes ribosomal RNA to ensure proper oocyte maturation. Here, we establish oocyte-specific knockout mice of another RNA-exosome-associated RNase, DIS3. Mutant females (Dis3cKO) exhibit significantly reduced fertility because oocytes arrest after the growth phase. Single-oocyte RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and CUT&Tag analyses show that DIS3 degrades intergenic RNA and mediates transcription silencing that is essential for chromatin condensation and resumption of meiosis. Dis3cKO oocytes exhibit elevated H3K27me3 in a pre-defined manner due to insufficient demethylation. During oocyte growth, EXOSC10 functions with DIS3 to degrade intergenic RNA. Double-knockout oocytes have earlier growth defects and more accumulated transcripts. We conclude that RNA exosomes synergistically degrade unwanted RNA and mediate transcription termination to ensure transcriptome integrity during oocyte development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Jurrien Dean
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ntini E, Budach S, Vang Ørom UA, Marsico A. Genome-wide measurement of RNA dissociation from chromatin classifies transcripts by their dynamics and reveals rapid dissociation of enhancer lncRNAs. Cell Syst 2023; 14:906-922.e6. [PMID: 37857083 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in gene expression regulation in cis. Although enriched in the cell chromatin fraction, to what degree this defines their regulatory potential remains unclear. Furthermore, the factors underlying lncRNA chromatin tethering, as well as the molecular basis of efficient lncRNA chromatin dissociation and its impact on enhancer activity and target gene expression, remain to be resolved. Here, we developed chrTT-seq, which combines the pulse-chase metabolic labeling of nascent RNA with chromatin fractionation and transient transcriptome sequencing to follow nascent RNA transcripts from their transcription on chromatin to release and allows the quantification of dissociation dynamics. By incorporating genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic metrics, as well as RNA-binding protein propensities, in machine learning models, we identify features that define transcript groups of different chromatin dissociation dynamics. Notably, lncRNAs transcribed from enhancers display reduced chromatin retention, suggesting that, in addition to splicing, their chromatin dissociation may shape enhancer activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Ntini
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, IMBB-FORTH, 70013 Heraklio, Greece.
| | - Stefan Budach
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf A Vang Ørom
- Aarhus University, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Annalisa Marsico
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mattick JS, Amaral PP, Carninci P, Carpenter S, Chang HY, Chen LL, Chen R, Dean C, Dinger ME, Fitzgerald KA, Gingeras TR, Guttman M, Hirose T, Huarte M, Johnson R, Kanduri C, Kapranov P, Lawrence JB, Lee JT, Mendell JT, Mercer TR, Moore KJ, Nakagawa S, Rinn JL, Spector DL, Ulitsky I, Wan Y, Wilusz JE, Wu M. Long non-coding RNAs: definitions, functions, challenges and recommendations. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:430-447. [PMID: 36596869 PMCID: PMC10213152 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00566-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 407] [Impact Index Per Article: 407.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Genes specifying long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) occupy a large fraction of the genomes of complex organisms. The term 'lncRNAs' encompasses RNA polymerase I (Pol I), Pol II and Pol III transcribed RNAs, and RNAs from processed introns. The various functions of lncRNAs and their many isoforms and interleaved relationships with other genes make lncRNA classification and annotation difficult. Most lncRNAs evolve more rapidly than protein-coding sequences, are cell type specific and regulate many aspects of cell differentiation and development and other physiological processes. Many lncRNAs associate with chromatin-modifying complexes, are transcribed from enhancers and nucleate phase separation of nuclear condensates and domains, indicating an intimate link between lncRNA expression and the spatial control of gene expression during development. lncRNAs also have important roles in the cytoplasm and beyond, including in the regulation of translation, metabolism and signalling. lncRNAs often have a modular structure and are rich in repeats, which are increasingly being shown to be relevant to their function. In this Consensus Statement, we address the definition and nomenclature of lncRNAs and their conservation, expression, phenotypic visibility, structure and functions. We also discuss research challenges and provide recommendations to advance the understanding of the roles of lncRNAs in development, cell biology and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John S Mattick
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Paulo P Amaral
- INSPER Institute of Education and Research, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Piero Carninci
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Susan Carpenter
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Center for Personal Dynamics Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ling-Ling Chen
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Runsheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Center for Big Data Research in Health, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caroline Dean
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Marcel E Dinger
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine A Fitzgerald
- Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Mitchell Guttman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Tetsuro Hirose
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Maite Huarte
- Department of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rory Johnson
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Chandrasekhar Kanduri
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Philipp Kapranov
- Institute of Genomics, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jeanne B Lawrence
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jeannie T Lee
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua T Mendell
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Timothy R Mercer
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kathryn J Moore
- Department of Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - John L Rinn
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - David L Spector
- Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbour, NY, USA
| | - Igor Ulitsky
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yue Wan
- Laboratory of RNA Genomics and Structure, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeremy E Wilusz
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Therapeutic Innovation Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mian Wu
- Translational Research Institute, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mattick JS. RNA out of the mist. Trends Genet 2023; 39:187-207. [PMID: 36528415 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
RNA has long been regarded primarily as the intermediate between genes and proteins. It was a surprise then to discover that eukaryotic genes are mosaics of mRNA sequences interrupted by large tracts of transcribed but untranslated sequences, and that multicellular organisms also express many long 'intergenic' and antisense noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). The identification of small RNAs that regulate mRNA translation and half-life did not disturb the prevailing view that animals and plant genomes are full of evolutionary debris and that their development is mainly supervised by transcription factors. Gathering evidence to the contrary involved addressing the low conservation, expression, and genetic visibility of lncRNAs, demonstrating their cell-specific roles in cell and developmental biology, and their association with chromatin-modifying complexes and phase-separated domains. The emerging picture is that most lncRNAs are the products of genetic loci termed 'enhancers', which marshal generic effector proteins to their sites of action to control cell fate decisions during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John S Mattick
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|