Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are, arguably, the enigma of the RNA transcriptome. Even though there are more annotated ncRNAs (25,967) compared to mRNAs (19,827), we know far less about each of the genes that produce ncRNA, especially in terms of their regulation, molecular functions, and interactions. Further, we are only beginning to understand the role of differential regulation or function of ncRNAs caused by genetic and epigenetic perturbations, such as single nucleotide variants (SNV), deletions, insertions, and histone/DNA modifications. The 22 papers in this Special Issue describe the emerging roles of ncRNAs in neurological, cardiovascular, immune, and hepatic systems, to name a few, as well as in diseases such as cancer, Prader-Willi Syndrome, cardiac arrhythmias, and diabetes. As we begin to understand the function and regulation of this class of RNAs, strategies targeting ncRNAs could lead to improved therapeutic interventions for some conditions.
Keyphrases
- human health
- genome wide
- dna methylation
- risk assessment
- type diabetes
- gene expression
- copy number
- climate change
- single molecule
- papillary thyroid
- physical activity
- left ventricular
- squamous cell carcinoma
- squamous cell
- adipose tissue
- insulin resistance
- nucleic acid
- lymph node metastasis
- circulating tumor cells
- bioinformatics analysis
- genome wide analysis