The emerging epitranscriptomics of long noncoding RNAs

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1859; no. 1; pp. 59 - 70
• Main Authors: Shafik, Andrew, Schumann, Ulrike, Evers, Maurits, Sibbritt, Tennille, Preiss, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2016
• Subjects: 5-Methylcytidine; Adenosine - genetics; Animals; Cytidine - analogs & derivatives; Cytidine - chemistry; Editing; Epigenomics; Genome; Humans; lncRNA; miRNAs; N6-methyladenosine; Pseudouridine; RNA, Long Noncoding - chemistry; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; RNA, Transfer - chemistry; RNA, Transfer - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptome - genetics; Aza-IP; hm5C; lncRNA; miRNAs; Ψ; Editing; 5-Methylcytidine; Pseudouridine; miCLIP; m6A; m5C; bsRNA-seq; N6-methyladenosine; NGS; iCLIP
• ISSN: 1874-9399; 0006-3002; 1876-4320
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2015.10.019

The pervasive transcription of genomes into long noncoding RNAs has been amply demonstrated in recent years and garnered much attention. Similarly, emerging ‘epitranscriptomics’ research has shown that chemically modified nucleosides, thought to be largely the domain of tRNAs and other infrastructural RNAs, are far more widespread and can exert unexpected influence on RNA utilization. Both areas are characterized by the often-ephemeral nature of the subject matter in that few individual examples have been fully assessed for their molecular or cellular function, and effects might often be subtle and cumulative. Here we review available information at the intersection of these two exciting areas of biology, by focusing on four RNA modifications that have been mapped transcriptome-wide: 5-methylcytidine, N6-methyladenosine, pseudouridine as well as adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) editing, and their incidence and function in long noncoding RNAs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Clues to long noncoding RNA taxonomy, edited by Dr. Tetsuro Hirose and Dr. Shinichi Nakagawa. [Display omitted] •RNA modifications are chemically diverse and implement epitranscriptomic regulation.•Technological advances in next generation sequencing have propelled the transcriptome-wide mapping of RNA modifications.•Emerging information on the role of post-transcriptional modifications in long noncoding RNA function is reviewed here