Fig. 1.

Schematic diagram of lncRNA action mechanisms. A: Mediators on signaling pathway: lncRNAs can serve as molecular signaling mediators which modulate certain set of gene expression in conjunction with specific transcription factors or chromatin modifiers. B: Molecular decoys: lncRNAs can serve as the molecular decoy which takes away proteins or RNAs from the specific location. C: Work as molecular guides: lncRNAs can serve as the molecular guides by locating certain ribonucleoprotein complexes to specific target site on chromatin. D: Scaffold function: lncRNAs can support the assembly of protein complexes which link the factors together to generate brand new functions. IncRNA: long non-coding RNA.