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Review
. 2019 May 22:10:496.
doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00496. eCollection 2019.

Coding or Noncoding, the Converging Concepts of RNAs

Jing Li  1 , Changning Liu  1
Affiliations
Review

Coding or Noncoding, the Converging Concepts of RNAs

Jing Li et al. Front Genet. .

Abstract

Technological advances over the past decade have unraveled the remarkable complexity of RNA. The identification of small peptides encoded by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as well as regulatory functions mediated by non-coding regions of mRNAs have further complicated our understanding of the multifaceted functions of RNA. In this review, we summarize current evidence pointing to dual roles of RNA molecules defined by their coding and non-coding potentials. We also discuss how the emerging roles of RNA transform our understanding of gene expression and evolution.

Keywords: coding potential; long noncoding RNA; messenger RNA; micropeptide; ribosome profiling.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
The interchangeable roles between coding and long noncoding RNAs. Traditionally, RNAs could be divided into two categories in accordance with their coding potential, that is, coding RNAs and noncoding RNAs. Coding RNAs generally refers to mRNA that encodes protein ① to act as various components including enzymes, cell structures, and signal transductors. Noncoding RNAs act as cellular regulators without encoding proteins ③. However, it appears that the boundaries blur between coding RNA and noncoding RNA as some coding mRNAs can function without translating to protein via the formation of RNA secondary structure primarily derived from the UTR ②; some lncRNAs can bind with ribosomes, and encode peptides to modulate cellular activities ④.
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