title: Linking RNA biology to lncRNAs.
abstract: The regulatory potential of RNA has never ceased to amaze: from RNA catalysis, to RNA-mediated splicing, to RNA-based silencing of an entire chromosome during dosage compensation. More recently, thousands of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts have been identified, the majority with unknown function. Thus, it is tempting to think that these lncRNAs represent a cadre of new factors that function through ribonucleic mechanisms. Some evidence points to several lncRNAs with tantalizing physiological contributions and thought-provoking molecular modalities. However, dissecting the RNA biology of lncRNAs has been difficult, and distinguishing the independent contributions of functional RNAs from underlying DNA elements, or the local act of transcription, is challenging. Here, we aim to survey the existing literature and highlight future approaches that will be needed to link the RNA-based biology and mechanisms of lncRNAs in vitro and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA;
authors.forename: Loyal A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Goff
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA; Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA; The Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rinn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D012313:RNA / Q000502:physiology*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000502:physiology*; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid; D012313:RNA