Long non-coding RNAs articles from across Nature Portfolio

The role of mutations within long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) exons on tumour cell fitness remains to be explored. Here, the authors investigate the landscape of driver lncRNAs in primary and metastatic samples and validate the functional significance of single nucleotide variants in the NEAT1 oncogene in vitro and in vivo.

Regulatory T (T_reg) cells have an important role in age-related diseases and inflammation; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Li et al. identify a T_reg-specific long noncoding RNA, Altre, that binds Yin Yang 1 to regulate liver T_reg mitochondrial function in old mice. Altre deletion accelerates aging-associated liver pathogenesis.

Han et al. identify the long non-coding RNA LIPTER as a key mediator of lipid droplet transport and metabolism in human cardiomyocytes. LIPTER overexpression mitigates cardiomyopathy and preserves cardiac function in obese and diabetic mouse models.

Here, the authors show that the lncRNA LoNA links nucleolar structure to epigenetic reprogramming and zygotic genome activation. Loss of LoNA leads to 2C arrest by impairing nucleolar assembly and repression of 2C gene transcription.