Functional impacts of non-coding RNA processing on enhancer activity and target gene expression

J Mol Cell Biol. 2019 Oct 25;11(10):868-879. doi: 10.1093/jmcb/mjz047.

Abstract

Tight regulation of gene expression is orchestrated by enhancers. Through recent research advancements, it is becoming clear that enhancers are not solely distal regulatory elements harboring transcription factor binding sites and decorated with specific histone marks, but they rather display signatures of active transcription, showing distinct degrees of transcription unit organization. Thereby, a substantial fraction of enhancers give rise to different species of non-coding RNA transcripts with an unprecedented range of potential functions. In this review, we bring together data from recent studies indicating that non-coding RNA transcription from active enhancers, as well as enhancer-produced long non-coding RNA transcripts, may modulate or define the functional regulatory potential of the cognate enhancer. In addition, we summarize supporting evidence that RNA processing of the enhancer-associated long non-coding RNA transcripts may constitute an additional layer of regulation of enhancer activity, which contributes to the control and final outcome of enhancer-targeted gene expression.

Keywords: RNA processing; chromatin; cotranscriptional RNA splicing; enhancer; long non-coding RNA (lncRNA); transcription.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • RNA Splicing / genetics
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / genetics*
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • RNA, Long Noncoding