Fig. 7. Schematic showing the hypothetical downstream effects of lncRNA-U1 overexpression in primary hippocampal neurons.

a Schematic representation of normal signaling in neurons before the increased expression of lncRNA-U1. b Increased lncRNA-U1 expression alters the neuronal environment by changing the abundance of NPBWR1 followed by increased mitochondrial Ca²⁺ due to increased MCU channel expression. Ultimately, neuronal homeostasis is altered leading to the activation of both apoptosis and autophagy pathways.