Regulatory RNAs and Control of Epigenetic Mechanisms: Expectations for Cognition and Cognitive Dysfunction

Abstract

The diverse functions of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) can influence virtually every aspect of the transcriptional process including epigenetic regulation of genes. In the CNS, regulatory RNA networks and epigenetic mechanisms have broad relevance to gene transcription changes involved in long-term memory formation and cognition. Thus, it is becoming increasingly clear that multiple classes of ncRNAs impact neuronal development, neuroplasticity, and cognition. Currently, a large gap exists in our knowledge of how ncRNAs facilitate epigenetic processes, and how this phenomenon affects cognitive function. In this review, we discuss recent findings highlighting a provocative role for ncRNAs including lncRNAs and piRNAs in the control of epigenetic mechanisms involved in cognitive function. Furthermore, we discuss the putative roles for these ncRNAs in cognitive disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Keywords::

• chromatin
• epigenetics
• long noncoding RNA
• neuroplasticity
• neuroscience
• short noncoding RNA

Acknowledgements

The authors apologize to all their colleagues whose important work were not directly cited, or were overlooked in the preparation of this manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (MH082106, MH097909), the UAB Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (P30-HD38985) and the Evelyn F McKnight Brain Research Foundation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (MH082106, MH097909), the UAB Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (P30-HD38985) and the Evelyn F McKnight Brain Research Foundation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.