非编码RNA与基因表达调控

RNA regulation for gene expression

近年来,随着对基因组的深入研究,发现真核生物中存在许多形态和功能各异的非编码RNA分子,这类RNA分子并不表达蛋白质,但它们在基因转录水平、转录后水平及翻译水平起了重要的调控作用。具有调控作用的RNA分子种类非常丰富,如长链非编码RNA(long non-coding RNA,lncRNA)、miRNA、PIWI相互作用RNA(PIWI-interacting RNA,piRNA)、内源性小干扰RNA(endogenous small interfering RNA,endo-siRNA)、竞争性内源RNA(competitive endogenous RNA,ceRNA)等,它们使基因表达过程更为丰富、严谨和有序。本文综述几类典型的非编码RNA对基因表达的调节作用,以助于理解细胞中RNA分子调节网络的功能和机制。

Recent advances in eukaryotic genomic research have revealed that there are various kinds of non-coding RNAs in the cell. Although these non-coding RNAs do not express the proteins, they play key roles in the regulation of target gene expression at transcription, post-transcription and translation levels. There are various kinds of non-coding RNAs such as lncRNA, miRNA, piRNA, endo-siRNA and ceRNA with the regulatory functions which regulate gene expression in various, rigorous and organized ways. The regulating properties of these non-coding RNA molecules to gene expression are reviewed here, which may help to understand the functions and mechanisms of RNA regulating networks in the cell.