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. 2016 Sep 1;17(9):1446. doi: 10.3390/ijms17091446

Table 2.

Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and their characteristics and functions.

Name Length (nt) Characteristic and Function
MicroRNA (miRNA) 20–24
  • ● Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA)

  • ● derived from pre-miRNA (hairpin)

  • ● gene silencing

Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) 24–31
  • ● Form complexes with P-element induced wimpy testis (Piwi) proteins of the Argonaute family

  • ● silencing of transposable elements

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) 20–24
  • ● Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) processed by endoribonuclease Dicer into mature siRNA

  • ● post-transcriptional silencing/RNA interference (RNAi)

  • ● protection against viral infection

Promoter-associated RNA (PAR) 16–200
  • ● ssRNA with short half-life

  • ● Post-transcriptional regulation

Enhancer RNA (eRNA) 100–9000
  • ● ssRNA with short half-life

  • ● trasncriptional gene activation

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) >200
  • ● Non-protein coding transcripts

  • ● Subject to post-transcriptional modifications

  • ● Transcriptional/post-transcriptional regulation and precursor for siRNA