Enhancer RNAs are an important regulatory layer of the epigenome

Lauberth and Sartorelli consider and discuss recent insights into the biogenesis and function of enhancer RNAs and the key roles they play in the regulation of gene expression. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) direct a remarkable number of diverse functions in development and disease through their regulation of transcription, RNA processing and translation. Leading the charge in the RNA revolution is a class of ncRNAs that are synthesized at active enhancers, called enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). Here, we review recent insights into the biogenesis of eRNAs and the mechanisms underlying their multifaceted functions and consider how these findings could inform future investigations into enhancer transcription and eRNA function.