long noncoding RNA
Definition
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that do not encode proteins but perform diverse regulatory functions. Unlike messenger RNAs, lncRNAs regulate gene expression through multiple mechanisms including chromatin remodeling, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional processing, and serving as molecular scaffolds. They play critical roles in development, cellular differentiation, and disease pathogenesis. LncRNAs can act in cis (affecting nearby genes) or in trans (regulating distant genomic loci), and their dysregulation is implicated in cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Identifying and characterizing lncRNAs through transcriptomic profiling has become essential for understanding complex regulatory networks and discovering novel therapeutic targets in precision medicine.
Visualize long noncoding RNA in Nodes Bio
Researchers can map lncRNA regulatory networks by connecting lncRNAs to their target genes, associated transcription factors, and downstream pathways. Nodes Bio enables visualization of lncRNA-mRNA co-expression patterns, identification of lncRNA-protein interactions, and integration with disease phenotypes. Users can explore how specific lncRNAs influence gene regulatory cascades and identify hub lncRNAs that control multiple biological processes, facilitating hypothesis generation for functional validation studies.
Visualization Ideas:
- LncRNA-mRNA co-expression networks showing regulatory relationships
- LncRNA-protein interaction maps revealing molecular mechanisms
- Disease-associated lncRNA networks connecting dysregulated lncRNAs to pathological pathways
Example Use Case
A cancer research team investigating metastasis discovers that lncRNA MALAT1 is significantly upregulated in invasive breast cancer samples. Using transcriptomic data, they map MALAT1's regulatory network, revealing connections to epithelial-mesenchymal transition genes, splicing factors, and metastasis-associated pathways. Network analysis identifies MALAT1 as a hub regulator coordinating expression of multiple invasion-promoting genes. This visualization guides their decision to develop MALAT1-targeting antisense oligonucleotides as a potential therapeutic strategy, prioritizing downstream targets for combination therapy approaches.