A significant portion of the human genome encodes genes that transcribe long nonprotein-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). A large number of lncRNAs localize in the nucleus, either enriched on the chromatin or localized to specific subnuclear compartments. Nuclear lncRNAs participate in several biological processes, including chromatin organization, and transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression, and also act as structural scaffolds of nuclear domains. Here, we highlight recent studies demonstrating the role of lncRNAs in regulating gene expression and nuclear organization in mammalian cells. In addition, we update current knowledge about the involvement of the most-abundant and conserved lncRNA, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), in gene expression control.

人类基因组的很大一部分编码转录长非蛋白质编码 RNA (lncRNA) 的基因。大量 lncRNA 定位于细胞核，要么富集在染色质上，要么定位于特定的亚核区室。核lncRNA参与多种生物过程，包括染色质组织、转录和转录后基因表达，并且还充当核结构域的结构支架。在这里，我们重点介绍最近的研究，这些研究证明了 lncRNA 在调节哺乳动物细胞基因表达和核组织中的作用。此外，我们更新了有关最丰富和最保守的 lncRNA（转移相关肺腺癌转录物 1 (MALAT1)）参与基因表达控制的当前知识。