Volatile evolution of long noncoding RNA repertoires: mechanisms and biological implications. Kapusta, A. & Feschotte, C. Trends Genet., 30(10):439--452, October, 2014.
doi  abstract   bibtex   
Thousands of genes encoding long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in all vertebrate genomes thus far examined. The list of lncRNAs partaking in arguably important biochemical, cellular, and developmental activities is steadily growing. However, it is increasingly clear that lncRNA repertoires are subject to weak functional constraint and rapid turnover during vertebrate evolution. We discuss here some of the factors that may explain this apparent paradox, including relaxed constraint on sequence to maintain lncRNA structure/function, extensive redundancy in the regulatory circuits in which lncRNAs act, as well as adaptive and non-adaptive forces such as genetic drift. We explore the molecular mechanisms promoting the birth and rapid evolution of lncRNA genes, with an emphasis on the influence of bidirectional transcription and transposable elements, two pervasive features of vertebrate genomes. Together these properties reveal a remarkably dynamic and malleable noncoding transcriptome which may represent an important source of robustness and evolvability.
@ARTICLE{Kapusta2014-ox,
  title    = "Volatile evolution of long noncoding {RNA} repertoires:
              mechanisms and biological implications",
  author   = "Kapusta, Aur\'{e}lie and Feschotte, C\'{e}dric",
  abstract = "Thousands of genes encoding long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have
              been identified in all vertebrate genomes thus far examined. The
              list of lncRNAs partaking in arguably important biochemical,
              cellular, and developmental activities is steadily growing.
              However, it is increasingly clear that lncRNA repertoires are
              subject to weak functional constraint and rapid turnover during
              vertebrate evolution. We discuss here some of the factors that
              may explain this apparent paradox, including relaxed constraint
              on sequence to maintain lncRNA structure/function, extensive
              redundancy in the regulatory circuits in which lncRNAs act, as
              well as adaptive and non-adaptive forces such as genetic drift.
              We explore the molecular mechanisms promoting the birth and rapid
              evolution of lncRNA genes, with an emphasis on the influence of
              bidirectional transcription and transposable elements, two
              pervasive features of vertebrate genomes. Together these
              properties reveal a remarkably dynamic and malleable noncoding
              transcriptome which may represent an important source of
              robustness and evolvability.",
  journal  = "Trends Genet.",
  volume   =  30,
  number   =  10,
  pages    = "439--452",
  month    =  oct,
  year     =  2014,
  keywords = "
              AminV;conservation;evolution;lncrna;repeats;review;transposon;zotero;thesis\_intro;Zotero
              Import (Aug 30);Zotero Import (Aug 30)/My Library;Zotero Import
              (Aug 30)/My Library/lncrna;Classics",
  issn     = "0168-9525",
  doi      = "10.1016/j.tig.2014.08.004"
}

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