Studies in RNA-Chromatin Interactions

RNA is increasingly recognized not only as the end result of transcription but also as a key structural element in the organization of chromatin and the regulation of gene expression. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), for example, both mediate chromatin looping and recruit chromatin modifying proteins to gene promoters and regulatory elements. Nascent RNAs may serve as hubs for organization of factors for navigating chromatin during the process of transcription and for recruitment of RNA processing factors. Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) can mediate enhancer-promotor interactions, and super-lncRNAs can promote the activity of super enhancers. However, we still have much to learn regarding how nuclear RNAs are targeted to specific chromatin regions or features, and we are just beginning to understand all the ways they contribute to nuclear organization. This special issue of Frontiers in Epigenetics and Epigenomics invites articles that address these important questions.

Keywords: transcription, gene promoters, epigenomics, PRC, nascent RNAs, hnRNAs, eRNAs, lncRNAs

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