Non-coding RNAs in Skeletal Muscle Development and Disease

About this Research Topic

Background

Protein-encoding genes only account for a small portion (2%) of the genome, while the vast majority of the genome is transcribed into non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) at some point during development. ncRNAs include long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), etc., which are widely involved in gene expression regulation at the transcription, translation, and epigenetic levels. The skeletal muscle is the largest metabolic organ in the body, and its metabolic regulation is essential for maintaining systemic energy homeostasis. Metabolic inflexibility in muscles is a dominant cause of various metabolic diseases such as obesity and muscle wasting, impeding muscle development. Although only a few functional ncRNAs have been well characterized to date, they appear to control major biological processes impacting skeletal muscle development and diseases.

Recently, it is becoming increasingly clear that a complex network of epigenetic regulators and ncRNAs plays an essential role in skeletal muscle development and diseases. Given the emerging role of ncRNAs, this Research Topic aims to focus on excavating functional ncRNAs in skeletal muscle development and disease and probing their diverse genetic regulatory mechanisms. The regulation of m6A modification on the expression and function of skeletal muscle associated-ncRNA are also included. To achieve this goal, we encourage the utilization of high-throughput sequencing such as RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), isoform-sequencing (Iso-seq), single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (meRIP-seq), combined with molecular validation.

This Research Topic welcomes manuscripts showcasing the latest advances in the research field of ncRNAs in skeletal muscle development and disease. We welcome submissions of Original Research, Reviews, and other article types focusing on, but not limited to, the following sub-themes:
• The function of ncRNA in skeletal muscle development and disease
• ncRNA regulatory network in skeletal muscle development and disease
• ncRNA-derived micro peptide in skeletal muscle development and disease
• N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification on skeletal muscle associated-ncRNA

Keywords: ncRNA, Skeletal Muscle Development and Disease, RNA Regulatory Networks, RNA Modification

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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