Functional Characteristics of Long Noncoding RNAs Containing Sequences of Mobile Genetic Elements
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Functional Characteristics of Long Noncoding RNAs Containing Sequences of Mobile Genetic Elements K. A. Tatosyana, L. S. Zinevichb, D. E. Demina, c, and A. M. Schwartza, * a
Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991 Russia Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334 Russia c Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow oblast, 141701 Russia *e-mail: [email protected]
b
Received April 21, 2020; revised April 21, 2020; accepted April 27, 2020
Abstract—Long nonconding RNAs (lncRNAs) perform a variety of functions: they are involved in chromatin organization, regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, and regulation of activity and stability of some proteins. The majority of known lncRNAs contain sequences of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in a sense or antisense orientation. According to several studies, MGE may serve as functional modules responsible for interactions between the lncRNA and certain proteins, DNA regions, or other RNAs. The available data make it possible to describe groups of lncRNAs that possess common structural features and contain certain MGEs and to predict the characteristics of new lncRNAs. The review summarizes the data on the role that MGE sequences play in lncRNA functions. Keywords: long noncoding RNA, mobile genetic element, SINE, Alu repeat DOI: 10.1134/S0026893320050106
INTRODUCTION Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts of more than 200 nt in length that are not involved as templates in protein synthesis [1]. Human cells produce 30–270 thousand different lncRNAs according to different estimates [2, 3]. Although lncRNA genes are less conserved than protein-coding genes on average, it was observed that their positions relative to other genes and their secondary structures are quite conservative [4–6]. Studies showed that lncRNAs play an important role in regulating gene expression at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels, organizing chromatin, and regulating the stability of various RNAs and certain proteins [7, 8]. Modern data indicate that lncRNA expression and functions are highly tissue specific. For example, approximately 78% of lncRNAs are expressed in one or few tissues each. Nervous system tissues and the testis express the greatest variety of lncRNAs [9, 10]. A large-scale screening of lncRNA functions was performed in various human cells and showed that expression of 499 lncRNAs is important for normal cell proliferation. The overwhelming majority of these lncRNAs exert their effect in one cell type each [11]. LncRNAs play an important role in regulating cell differentiation [12] and are involved in various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders [13] and cancer [14].
Sequences of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are present in more than 80% of all known lncRNAs. MGE sequences account for more than 40% of the total lncRNA length on average [15]. MGEs may play an important role in the l
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