RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A conserved abundant cytoplasmic long noncoding RNA modulates repression by Pumilio proteins in human cells JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 033423 DO 10.1101/033423 A1 Tichon, Ailone A1 Gil, Noa A1 Lubelsky, Yoav A1 Havkin Solomon, Tal A1 Lemze, Doron A1 Itzkovitz, Shalev A1 Stern-Ginossar, Noam A1 Ulitsky, Igor YR 2016 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/03/21/033423.abstract AB Thousands of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes are encoded in the human genome, and hundreds of them are evolutionary conserved, but their functions and modes of action remain largely obscure. Particularly enigmatic lncRNAs are those that are exported to the cytoplasm, including NORAD – an abundant and highly conserved cytoplasmic lncRNA. Most of the sequence of NORAD is comprised of repetitive units that together contain at least 17 functional binding sites for the two Pumilio homologs in mammals. Through binding to PUM1 and PUM2, NORAD modulates the mRNA levels of their targets, which are enriched for genes involved in chromosome segregation during cell division. Our results suggest that some cytoplasmic lncRNAs function by modulating the activities of RNA binding proteins, an activity which positions them at key junctions of cellular signaling pathways.