Unveiling the hidden function of long non-coding RNA by identifying its major partner-protein

Tens of thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been discovered in eukarya, but their functions are largely unknown. Fortunately, lncRNA-protein interactions may offer details of how lncRNAs play important roles in various biological processes, thus identifying proteins associated with lncRNA is critical. Here we review progress of molecular archetypes that lncRNAs execute as guides, scaffolds, or decoys for protein, focusing on advantages, shortcomings and applications of various conventional and emerging technologies to probe lncRNAs and protein interactions, including protein-centric biochemistry approaches such as nRIP and CLIP, and RNA-centric biochemistry approaches such as ChIRP, CHART and RAP. Overall, this review provides strategies for probing interactions between lncRNAs and protein.