Analysis of data obtained from the human genome project revealed a <5% representation of protein-coding sequences. While the bulk of human genome appears to be non-coding, findings from the ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) projects provided evidence that >80% of the human genome are transcribed, suggesting potential functional significance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). To date, ncRNAs can be classified into small ncRNAs (<200 nucleotides) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs, >200 nucleotides). Small ncRNAs include functional RNAs like ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), transfer RNAs (tRNAs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). Other small ncRNAs such as piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) serve regulatory functions. LncRNAs are classified into sense, antisense, bidirectional, intergenic, and intronic. They can also adopt a closed conformation known as circular RNAs (circRNAs). Accumulating evidence suggests that lncRNAs mediate diverse functions in controlling gene expression at transcriptional, post-transcriptional or epigenetic levels.
Interestingly, a large number of ncRNAs were found to be specifically expressed in the nervous system in a temporal- and spatial-specific manner. They are implicated in the regulation of a plethora of important processes such as neuronal and glial differentiation, synaptogenesis, neural plasticity, and senescence. Emerging evidence suggests that mutation of lncRNA or a dysregulation of their expressions correlates with a variety of disorders in the nervous system, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Bipolar Disorder, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease. Recent studies showed that injury of the nervous system is associated with alterations in the expression profile of lncRNAs and is dependent on the degree of severity. LncRNAs are also implicated in cancer development in the nervous system by serving oncogenic or tumor suppressor function. While lncRNAs are involved in a range of disorders in the nervous system, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this Research Topic is to serve as a repository of the latest discoveries and insights about the role of ncRNAs in diseases of the nervous system. An understanding of their mechanistic actions is expected to facilitate the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics for these diseases.
We welcome submissions of original research and review articles covering, but not limited to the following areas:
• ncRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases (eg. AD, PD, ALS)
• ncRNAs in neuropsychiatric diseases (eg. autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
• ncRNAs in the injured nervous system due to trauma or stroke
• ncRNAs in cancers of the nervous system
• The development of ncRNAs as therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers in nervous system disorders
• Novel delivery approaches for therapeutics that target ncRNAs
Analysis of data obtained from the human genome project revealed a <5% representation of protein-coding sequences. While the bulk of human genome appears to be non-coding, findings from the ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) projects provided evidence that >80% of the human genome are transcribed, suggesting potential functional significance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). To date, ncRNAs can be classified into small ncRNAs (<200 nucleotides) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs, >200 nucleotides). Small ncRNAs include functional RNAs like ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), transfer RNAs (tRNAs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). Other small ncRNAs such as piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) serve regulatory functions. LncRNAs are classified into sense, antisense, bidirectional, intergenic, and intronic. They can also adopt a closed conformation known as circular RNAs (circRNAs). Accumulating evidence suggests that lncRNAs mediate diverse functions in controlling gene expression at transcriptional, post-transcriptional or epigenetic levels.
Interestingly, a large number of ncRNAs were found to be specifically expressed in the nervous system in a temporal- and spatial-specific manner. They are implicated in the regulation of a plethora of important processes such as neuronal and glial differentiation, synaptogenesis, neural plasticity, and senescence. Emerging evidence suggests that mutation of lncRNA or a dysregulation of their expressions correlates with a variety of disorders in the nervous system, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Bipolar Disorder, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease. Recent studies showed that injury of the nervous system is associated with alterations in the expression profile of lncRNAs and is dependent on the degree of severity. LncRNAs are also implicated in cancer development in the nervous system by serving oncogenic or tumor suppressor function. While lncRNAs are involved in a range of disorders in the nervous system, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this Research Topic is to serve as a repository of the latest discoveries and insights about the role of ncRNAs in diseases of the nervous system. An understanding of their mechanistic actions is expected to facilitate the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics for these diseases.
We welcome submissions of original research and review articles covering, but not limited to the following areas:
• ncRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases (eg. AD, PD, ALS)
• ncRNAs in neuropsychiatric diseases (eg. autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
• ncRNAs in the injured nervous system due to trauma or stroke
• ncRNAs in cancers of the nervous system
• The development of ncRNAs as therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers in nervous system disorders
• Novel delivery approaches for therapeutics that target ncRNAs
