Functions of long noncoding RNAs and their roles in ocular diseases

Abstract:

Advances in genome-wide analysis have revealed that up to 90% of the human genome is transcribed. However, only approximately 1% of RNA transcripts encode proteins, and the remaining transcripts are noncoding RNAs. Noncoding RNAs can be roughly divided into small noncoding RNAs(<200nt)and long noncoding RNAs(LncRNAs, >200nt). Small noncoding RNAs include microRNAs, transfer RNAs and small nucleolar RNAs, whereas the long noncoding RNAs comprise ribosomal RNA, natural antisense transcripts, etc. Although the biosynthesis and biological activities of microRNAs are well studied through bioinformatics and active biological molecules analysis, the understanding of LncRNAs on these aspects is still limited. LncRNAs play multiple roles in regulating gene transcription and translation, and epigenetics. Aberrant LncRNAs expression can occur in various pathological processes and significantly related to the pathogenesis or poor prognosis of ophthalmological diseases. In this review, we will focus on the characteristics and regulatory functions of LncRNAs that are commonly associated with ophthalmological diseases.

Key words:long non-coding RNA; ophthalmic disease; gene therapy