Figure 1.

Schematic overview of ncRNA biogenesis, functions, and mechanisms of action in glioblastoma cells. This scheme represents the complexity of a genomic locus and the main molecular events which contribute to gene expression control. LncRNAs and miRNAs are master regulators in multiple biological processes associated with the initiation and progression of glioblastoma. (1) miRNAs directly interact with the target mRNAs, leading to mRNA silencing, mRNA cleavage or repression of protein translational. LncRNAs can be categorized according to their cellular functions and mechanisms of action: (2) acts as ceRNA by sponging miRNA; (3) direct transcriptional control; (4) RNA processing, including mRNA stability and alternative splicing; (5) endo-siRNAs production by spliced intron; and (6) protein translation regulation. Moreover, lncRNAs facilitate the assembly of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex which can affect different processes, such as (7) subcellular localization of proteins, (8) structural and organizational roles, (9) remodeling of chromatin, and (10) post-translational regulation of protein activity. Additionally, lncRNAs contribute to (11) activate or suppress RNAP II activity and can be used to (12) produce sncRNAs, which have regulatory/structural functions. RNAP II: RNA Polymerase II; CDS: coding sequence; lncRNA: long non-coding RNA; miRNA: microRNA; endo-siRNA: endogenous small interfering RNA; sncRNA: small non-coding RNA; snoRNA: small nucleolar RNA.