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

Long Noncoding RNAs in Cancer Pathways

Functional Classification and Experimental Dissection of Long Noncoding RNAs

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

lincRNAs: genomics, evolution, and mechanisms.

https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(13)00201-8.pdf

Sergio A. Sara

Papers

An Architectural role for a nuclear noncoding RNA : NEAT1 RNA is essential for the structure of paraspeckles