Control of RNA processing by a large non-coding RNA over-expressed in carcinomas

RNA processing is vital for the high fidelity and diversity of eukaryotic transcriptomes and the encoded proteomes. However, control of RNA processing is not fully established. Sigma RNA is a class of conserved large non-coding RNAs (murine Hepcarcin; human MALAT-1) up-regulated in carcinomas. Using antisense technology, we identified that RNA post-transcriptional modification is the most significant global function of Sigma RNA. Specifically, processing of the pre-mRNAs of genes including Tissue Factor and Endoglin was altered by hydrolysis of Sigma RNA/MALAT-1. These results support the hypothesis that Sigma RNA/MALAT-1 is a regulatory molecule exerting roles in RNA post-transcriptional modification. (C) 2011 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.