Genomes of multicellular organisms are characterized by the pervasive expression of different types of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) belong to a novel heterogeneous class of ncRNAs that includes thousands of different species. lncRNAs have crucial roles in gene expression control during both developmental and differentiation processes, and the number of lncRNA species increases in genomes of developmentally complex organisms, which highlights the importance of RNA-based levels of control in the evolution of multicellular organisms. In this Review, we describe the function of lncRNAs in developmental processes, such as in dosage compensation, genomic imprinting, cell differentiation and organogenesis, with a particular emphasis on mammalian development.

Long non-coding RNAs: new players in cell differentiation and development

http://bartellab.wi.mit.edu/publication_reprints/Ulitsky_Cell_2013.pdf

lincRNAs: genomics, evolution, and mechanisms.

Circular Intronic Long Noncoding RNAs

Advances in RNA-sequencing techniques have led to the discovery of thousands of non-coding transcripts with unknown function. There are several types of non-coding linear RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNA) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), as well as circular RNAs (circRNA) consisting of a closed continuous loop. This review guides the reader through important aspects of non-coding RNA biology. This includes their biogenesis, mode of actions, physiological function, as well as their role in the disease context (such as in cancer or the cardiovascular system). We specifically focus on non-coding RNAs as potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers.

/pdf/non-coding-rnas-in-development-and-disease-background-57ddx2n5hi.pdf

Non-coding RNAs in Development and Disease: Background, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Approaches

Modification of Enhancer Chromatin: What, How, and Why?

https://bradleybiology.org/papers/pdf/2013/KlattenhoffEtAl2013.pdf

Braveheart, a Long Noncoding RNA Required for Cardiovascular Lineage Commitment

Dynamic and Coordinated Epigenetic Regulation of Developmental Transitions in the Cardiac Lineage

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are often expressed in a development-specific manner, yet little is known about their roles in lineage commitment. Here, we identified Braveheart (Bvht), a heart-associated lncRNA in mouse. Using multiple embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation strategies, we show that Bvht is required for progression of nascent mesoderm toward a cardiac fate. We find that Bvht is necessary for activation of a core cardiovascular gene network and functions upstream of mesoderm posterior 1 (MesP1), a master regulator of a common multipotent cardiovascular progenitor. We also show that Bvht interacts with SUZ12, a component of polycomb-repressive complex 2 (PRC2), during cardiomyocyte differentiation, suggesting that Bvht mediates epigenetic regulation of cardiac commitment. Finally, we demonstrate a role for Bvht in maintaining cardiac fate in neonatal cardiomyocytes. Together, our work provides evidence for a long noncoding RNA with critical roles in the establishment of the cardiovascular lineage during mammalian development.

Huiming Ding

Papers

Braveheart, a Long Noncoding RNA Required for Cardiovascular Lineage Commitment

Dynamic and Coordinated Epigenetic Regulation of Developmental Transitions in the Cardiac Lineage

Braveheart, a Long Noncoding RNA Required for Cardiovascular Lineage Commitment