title: Non-coding RNAs and their epigenetic regulatory mechanisms.
abstract: It is widely accepted that ncRNAs (non-coding RNAs), as opposed to protein-coding RNAs, represent the majority of human transcripts; and the regulatory roles of many of these ncRNAs have been elucidated over the past decade. One important role so far recognized for ncRNAs is their participation in the epigenetic regulation of genes. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly apparent that most epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression are controlled by ncRNAs. In this review, the different types of ncRNA that are strongly linked to epigenetic regulation are characterized and their possible mechanisms discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huihui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Maode
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D004247:DNA