Non-coding antisense transcripts: fine regulation of gene expression in cancer

Abstract

Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are coding or non-coding RNA sequences transcribed on the opposite direction from the same genomic locus. NATs are widely distributed throughout the human genome and seem to play crucial roles in physiological and pathological processes, through newly described and targeted mechanisms. NATs represent the intricate complexity of the genome organization and constitute another layer of potential targets in disease. Here, we focus on the interesting and unique role of non-coding NATs in cancer, paying particular attention to those acting as miRNA sponges.

Keywords: Antisense transcripts; Cancer; Long non-coding RNAs; ceRNAs; lncRNAs.

Fig. 1

NAT classification and mechanisms of regulation . Sense and antisense pairs can be head-to-head, tail-to-tail or fully overlapped . NATs can regulate the genes in the vicinity (cis-NATs) or at large distance in the genome (trans-NATs) . A proposed mechanism of action may involve a direct impact on the transcription of the cognate genes , through interference with the process of splicing, affecting the DNA or chromatin epigenetic signature or affect mature RNAs by RNA/RNA interactions, through DICER-dependent or -independent mechanisms , .