Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is defined as an RNA molecule that is functional but not translatable into a protein. Initially, ncRNAs referred only to tRNAs and rRNAs. Recently, the field has witnessed rapid growth, identifying several new classes of ncRNAs with the aide of next-generation sequencing technologies. The new species of ncRNAs include small nuclear ribonucleic acid (snRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), small interference RNAs (siRNAs), piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) , long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs), small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Although the approximate number of ncRNAs encoded within the mammalian genome has not been determined precisely, the recent transcriptomic and bioinformatic studies predict the existence of a large quantity of ncRNAs in the human genome. Functionally, many of the new ncRNA species play essential regulatory roles at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels via various molecular mechanisms epigenetically.
Numerous reports have documented the regulation of the ncRNAs, particularly mirRNAs and lncRNAs, in a wide range of cellular processes. Consequently, they significantly contribute to regulation of reproduction, regeneration, growth, development and aging of organisms, particularly in mammals, and to the pathogenesis of many diseases such as neurological disorders, oncogenesis, heart /kidney diseases, etc. Indeed, the emerging evidences have linked the aberrant generation of lncRNAs with down-regulation of the tumor suppressor genes and activation of the oncogenes.
This Research Topic will focus on the ncRNAs, particularly cirRNAs and lncRNAs, while other small RNAs such as miRNAs and piRNAs are also included, due to their extensive functional characterization and emerging interest on their therapeutic potentials for stubborn diseases, such as neurological disorders and cancers.
We welcome investigators in the field of ncRNAs and ncRNAs-mediated diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiac diseases, hematological diseases, and cancers, to contribute Original Research articles as well as Review articles. Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
• Bioinformatic and transcriptomic tools for identification and characterization of ncRNAs particularly the unclassi?ed ncRNAs.
• Latest technologies for predicting the structure and function of novel cirRNAs and lncRNAs in model and non-model organisms.
• Distribution and characterization of ncRNAs in transcriptomes among the model and non-model organisms.
• Regulation, functions and mechanism of lncRNAs and cirRNAs in a wide range of cell processes such as the metabolic pathways.
• Potential links between the aberrant expression levels of ncRNAs and pathogenesis of some stubborn diseases including cancer, neurological disorders, heart /kidney diseases, etc.
• Recent developments in diagnosis of cancers, neurological diseases, and other genetic diseases with the implications of ncRNAs .
• Targeting or delivery ncRNAs for therapy of cancer, neurological diseases, etc.
• Epitranscriptome modifications of lncRNAs in reproduction, regeneration, growth, development, and aging.
Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is defined as an RNA molecule that is functional but not translatable into a protein. Initially, ncRNAs referred only to tRNAs and rRNAs. Recently, the field has witnessed rapid growth, identifying several new classes of ncRNAs with the aide of next-generation sequencing technologies. The new species of ncRNAs include small nuclear ribonucleic acid (snRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), small interference RNAs (siRNAs), piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) , long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs), small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Although the approximate number of ncRNAs encoded within the mammalian genome has not been determined precisely, the recent transcriptomic and bioinformatic studies predict the existence of a large quantity of ncRNAs in the human genome. Functionally, many of the new ncRNA species play essential regulatory roles at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels via various molecular mechanisms epigenetically.
Numerous reports have documented the regulation of the ncRNAs, particularly mirRNAs and lncRNAs, in a wide range of cellular processes. Consequently, they significantly contribute to regulation of reproduction, regeneration, growth, development and aging of organisms, particularly in mammals, and to the pathogenesis of many diseases such as neurological disorders, oncogenesis, heart /kidney diseases, etc. Indeed, the emerging evidences have linked the aberrant generation of lncRNAs with down-regulation of the tumor suppressor genes and activation of the oncogenes.
This Research Topic will focus on the ncRNAs, particularly cirRNAs and lncRNAs, while other small RNAs such as miRNAs and piRNAs are also included, due to their extensive functional characterization and emerging interest on their therapeutic potentials for stubborn diseases, such as neurological disorders and cancers.
We welcome investigators in the field of ncRNAs and ncRNAs-mediated diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiac diseases, hematological diseases, and cancers, to contribute Original Research articles as well as Review articles. Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
• Bioinformatic and transcriptomic tools for identification and characterization of ncRNAs particularly the unclassi?ed ncRNAs.
• Latest technologies for predicting the structure and function of novel cirRNAs and lncRNAs in model and non-model organisms.
• Distribution and characterization of ncRNAs in transcriptomes among the model and non-model organisms.
• Regulation, functions and mechanism of lncRNAs and cirRNAs in a wide range of cell processes such as the metabolic pathways.
• Potential links between the aberrant expression levels of ncRNAs and pathogenesis of some stubborn diseases including cancer, neurological disorders, heart /kidney diseases, etc.
• Recent developments in diagnosis of cancers, neurological diseases, and other genetic diseases with the implications of ncRNAs .
• Targeting or delivery ncRNAs for therapy of cancer, neurological diseases, etc.
• Epitranscriptome modifications of lncRNAs in reproduction, regeneration, growth, development, and aging.
