Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a relatively poorly understood class of RNAs with little or no coding capacity transcribed from a set of incompletely annotated genes. They have received considerable attention in the past few years and are emerging as potentially important players in biological regulation. Here we discuss the evolving understanding of this new class of molecular regulators that has emerged from ongoing research, which continues to expand our databases of annotated lncRNAs and provide new insights into their physical properties, molecular mechanisms of action, and biological functions. We outline the current strategies and approaches that have been employed to identify and characterize lncRNAs, which have been instrumental in revealing their multi-faceted roles ranging from cis- to trans-regulation of gene expression, and from epigenetic modulation in the nucleus to post-transcriptional control in the cytoplasm. In addition, we highlight the molecular and biological functions of some of the best characterized lncRNA in physiology and disease, especially those relevant to endocrinology, reproduction, metabolism, immunology, neurobiology, muscle biology, and cancer. Finally, we discuss the tremendous diagnostic and therapeutic potential of lncRNAs in cancer and other diseases.

中文翻译：

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从发现到功能：长非编码RNA在生理和疾病中的扩展作用。

长的非编码RNA（lncRNA）是一类相对较不为人所知的RNA，几乎没有或没有编码能力是从一组不完全注释的基因中转录而来的。在过去的几年中，它们受到了相当大的关注，并且正在成为生物调控中潜在的重要参与者。在这里，我们将讨论正在进行的研究对这种新型分子调节剂的理解，该研究将继续扩展带注释的lncRNA的数据库，并为其物理特性，作用的分子机制和生物学功能提供新的见解。我们概述了目前用于鉴定和表征lncRNA的策略和方法，这些方法和方法有助于揭示其从基因表达的顺式至反式调控的多方面作用，从细胞核的表观遗传调控到细胞质的转录后控制。此外，我们着重介绍了一些在生理和疾病中最具特征的lncRNA的分子和生物学功能，尤其是与内分泌，生殖，代谢，免疫学，神经生物学，肌肉生物学和癌症相关的那些。最后，我们讨论了lncRNA在癌症和其他疾病中的巨大诊断和治疗潜力。