Fig. 2.

Mechanisms of lncRNA functions. (i) lncRNAs mediate recruitment of chromatin modifying complexes to specific genome loci; (ii) The process of splicing and transcription of lncRNAs regulate nearby protein-coding gene; (iii) Enhancer-like elements existing in lncRNA loci regulate gene expression; (iv) lncRNAs regulate transcription by interaction with transcription factors and transcriptional coactivators; (v) lncRNAs act as ceRNA to modulate expression of genes targeted by microRNAs; (vi) lncRNAs bind to mRNA and alter its stability and translation activity; (vii) lncRNAs regulate posttranslational modification, subcellular localization, activation and degradation of protein by forming lncRNA-protein complexes. Pol II: RNA polymerase-II; RISC complex: RNA-induced silencing complex.