Messenger RNA

Translation (biology)

Transcriptional regulation

Biology

Gene

Gene expression

RNA interference

Chromatin remodeling

microRNA

Non-coding RNA

Regulation of gene expression

Computational biology

Cell biology

Translational regulation

Epigenetics

Genetics

Long non-coding RNA

Chromatin

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Long non-coding (lnc) RNAs are non-coding RNAs longer than 200 nt. lncRNAs primarily interact with mRNA, DNA, protein, and miRNA and consequently regulate gene expression at the epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels in a variety of ways. They play important roles in biological processes such as chromatin remodeling, transcriptional activation, transcriptional interference, RNA processing, and mRNA translation. lncRNAs have important functions in plant growth and development; biotic and abiotic stress responses; and in regulation of cell differentiation, the cell cycle, and the occurrence of many diseases in humans and animals. In this review, we summarize the functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs in plants, humans, and animals at different regulatory levels.

Mechanisms and Functions of Long Non-Coding RNAs at Multiple Regulatory Levels