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Review
. 2017 Jun;15(3):201-207.
doi: 10.1016/j.gpb.2017.02.003. Epub 2017 Jun 17.

Non-coding Transcripts from Enhancers: New Insights into Enhancer Activity and Gene Expression Regulation

Hongjun Chen  1 , Guangshi Du  1 , Xu Song  2 , Ling Li  3
Affiliations
Review

Non-coding Transcripts from Enhancers: New Insights into Enhancer Activity and Gene Expression Regulation

Hongjun Chen et al. Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have gained widespread interest in the past decade owing to their enormous amount and surprising functions implicated in a variety of biological processes. Some lncRNAs exert function as enhancers, i.e., activating gene transcription by serving as the cis-regulatory molecules. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that many enhancer elements can be transcribed and produce RNA molecules, which are termed as enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). The eRNAs are not merely the by-product of the enhancer transcription. In fact, many of them directly exert or regulate enhancer activity in gene activation through diverse mechanisms. Here, we provide an overview of enhancer activity, transcription of enhancer itself, characteristics of eRNAs, as well as their roles in regulating enhancer activity and gene expression.

Keywords: Enhancer activity; Enhancer transcription; Gene expression; LncRNA; eRNA.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distinct types of eRNAs Uni-directional and polyadenylated eRNAs are shown in the upper part of the diagram, whereas bi-directional and non-polyadenylated eRNAs are shown in the lower part of the diagram. RNAPII, RNA polymerase II; TF, transcription factor.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic model depicting how eRNAs work The transcribed eRNAs interact with RNAPII and proteins (X), thus facilitating promoter–enhancer looping formation and then enhancing target gene transcription. RNAPII, RNA polymerase II; eRNA, enhancer RNA.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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