The human genome is composed of large and complex nucleotide sequences, which can produce more than 100,000 proteins through transcription and translation. Only 2% of genomic transcripts are translated into proteins; the remaining 98% do not have protein encoding function but play a key role on the processes of cell biology: these kinds of RNAs are called noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs).

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) account for more than 80% of ncRNAs. They were found to participate in a large variety of biological processes such as cell proliferation, morphogenesis, pluripotency, development, neuronal processes, and gametogenesis. These functions make lncRNAs vital for cellular health and homeostasis; conversely, their dysregulation has been described in tumorigenesis and in genetically inherited diseases.

The International Journal of Genomics seeks original as well as review articles for a special issue on lncRNAs. The goal of the issue is to stimulate a continuous effort to better understand the role of lncRNAs, to discover new functions, and their evaluation in diseases. The journal will also consider articles concerning new strategies and methods for large scale identification of lncRNAs in other organisms, including vertebrate and invertebrate animals, plants, and fungi, which have adapted epigenetic pathways in unique ways and have developed alternative phenotypes and behaviors that make them better suited for their environment. Thanks to cheap sequencing technologies and efficient genome editing tools, nonmodel organisms are emerging as potential experimental systems and are becoming accessible to molecular approaches.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Recent developments as biomarkers in inherited disease
• Latest technologies for in silico prediction of structure and functions
• New databases
• Role of lncRNAs in cancer
• Role of lncRNAs in aging and disease
• Role of lncRNAs in common and rare diseases
• lncRNAs mechanisms of biological processes regulation
• lncRNAs as drug target
• Epitranscriptome modifications of lncRNAs
• lncRNAs in the multiomic context
• lncRNAs in model organisms
• Discovery and functional studies of novel noncoding RNAs in nonmodel organisms