Unveiling the functional implications of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) encoded peptides in various diseases

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), once deemed to be non-coding sequences, but recent discoveries in genomic profiling prove that they code for small peptides with functional properties. These lncRNA-encoded peptides, known as lncPeptide (lncPEPs), have found to be involved various biological pathways with critical implications in various diseases. This review explores the expanding role of lncPEPs by examining their structural domains and their functions across various cellular pathways. It also elaborates its applications as novel biomarkers and therapeutical targets, with major focus on their involvement in disease progression. We have presented both the experimental and computational approaches used to discover and validate lncPEPs and key methodologies including ribosome profiling, targeted proteomics, CRISPR-based loss-of-function screens, and specialized bioinformatic pipelines for coding-potential prediction. Based on recent experimental findings and computational analysis, we highlight the growing functional significance of lncRNAs which underscore the potential of lncPEPs in future research on disease diagnosis and therapeutic development.