Résumé
While the regulatory role of lincRNAs is becoming increasingly appreciated, the functional role of RNA structures within these molecules is not well understood. We have embarked on a study to understand the folding of lincRNA molecules, and to identify functional structural modules within large RNA transcripts. Using approaches to promote the native folding of large RNA molecules, we have been purifying lincRNAs, mapping their structures with chemical probes, and then using this information to construct structural maps of lincRNA architecture. This work is complemented by phylogenetic and genetic approaches for exploring the functional relevance of RNA structures identified in our study. In this way, we have mapped the structure of lincRNAs such as HOTAIR and lincRNA p21, identifying novel structural motifs, enabling evolutionary comparisons and facilitating targeted mutational studies of lincRNA function. Citation Format: Isabel Chillon, Srinivas Somarowthu, Fei Liu, Anna Marie Pyle. Regulatory control of lincRNA function through formation of complex RNA structural motifs. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Noncoding RNAs and Cancer: Mechanisms to Medicines ; 2015 Dec 4-7; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(6 Suppl):Abstract nr IA25.