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Fig. 1 | Clinical Epigenetics

Fig. 1

From: Long non-coding RNAs: implications in targeted diagnoses, prognosis, and improved therapeutic strategies in human non- and triple-negative breast cancer

Fig. 1

Proposed five functional archetypes for the lncRNA mechanisms. 1. Decoys: lncRNAs can titrate away transcription factors and other proteins away from chromatin, or titrate the protein factors into nuclear subdomains. 2. Signals: lncRNAs expression can faithfully reflect the combinatorial actions of transcription factors (colored ovals) or signaling pathways to indicate gene regulation by space and time. 3. Guides: lncRNAs may recruit chromatin-modifying enzymes to gene-promoter targets, either in Cis (near the genetic region of the lncRNA transcription) or in Trans into distant target genes. 4. Scaffolds: lncRNAs may bring together multiple proteins to conform ribonucleoprotein complexes. The lncRNA-RNP may act on chromatin as illustrated to affect histone code modifications. In other instances, the lncRNA scaffold is structural and stabilizes nuclear structures or signaling complexes 5. Sponge: lncRNAs that by complementarity of bases succeed in matching or sequestering sequences of small non-coding RNAs, such as miRNAs, are controlling bioavailability of miRNAs, vs. lncRNAs themselves, with the functional biological repercussions at cellular or physiological level. RNA-induced silencing complex RISC

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