基因组印记中的长非编码RNA

The Function of Long Non-coding RNAs in Genomic Imprinting

长非编码RNA(lnc RNA)是长度大于200 bp的一类非编码蛋白的RNA,因其在基因组中含量巨大以及重要的生物学功能引起了学术界的广泛关注.基因组印记是一种表观遗传现象,lnc RNAs通过建立靶基因的印记而发挥重要的生物功能.基因组印记可以用来研究lnc RNAs在转录和转录后水平调控基因表达的分子机制.本文选取6个印记机制研究比较透彻的印记区域,包括Kcnq1/Cdkn1c、Igf2r/Airn、Prader-Willi(PWS)/Angelman(AS)、Snurf/Snrpn、Dlk1-Dio3和H19/Igf2.通过介绍包括基因间lnc RNAs(H19、Ipw和Meg3)、反义lnc RNAs(Kcnq1ot1、Airn、Ube3a-ATS)和增强子lnc RNAs(IG-DMR e RNAs)在内的3种类型lnc RNAs在印记调控中的作用,从而了解lnc RNAs通过顺式或(/和)反式作用多种机制调控亲本特异性靶基因的表达.了解印记基因簇中lnc RNAs的作用方式将有助于我们揭示lnc RNAs在整个基因组中的作用机制.

Long noncoding RNAs （lncRNA） are non-protein coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. The field of long noncoding RNA （lncRNA） research has been rapidly advancing in recent years as its large number and important biological functions. Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon. The lncRNAs play a critical role in important biological functions by establishing genomic imprinting of target genes. Genomic imprinting has been a great resource for studying transcriptional and post-transcriptional-based gene regulation by lncRNAs. This review will focus on the mechanisms of imprinting in six of the most well-studied imprinted gene clusters： Kenq1/Cdknle, Igf2r/Airn, Prader-Willi （PWS）/Angelman （AS）, Snurf/Snrpn, Dlkl-Dio3, H19/Igf2, and overview the functional role of antisense lncRNAs （Kcnqlotltl, Airn and Ube3a-A TS）, intergenic lncRNAs （H19, IPIV and MEG3）, and enhancer lncRNAs （IG-DMR eRNAs） to understand the diverse mechanisms being employed by them in eis and （/or） trans to regulate the parent-of-origin-specific expression of target genes. A better understanding of these downstream mechanisms will help to improve our general understanding of the function of ncRNAs throughout the genome.