Long Noncoding RNAs as New Architects in Cancer Epigenetics, Prognostic Biomarkers, and Potential Therapeutic Targets

Figure 1

Molecular functions of lncRNAs.

(a) Signal: lncRNAs affect expression of the downstream gene and regulate transcriptional activity or pathway

(b) Decoy: lncRNAs titrate proteins away from chromatin, or they can function as decoy for miRNA target sites

(c) Guide: lncRNAs can recruit chromatin modifying enzymes to target genes and function as guides

(d) Scaffold: lncRNAs can bring together multiple proteins to form ribonucleoprotein complexes