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Regulatory networks between Polycomb complexes and non-coding RNAs in the central nervous system
Ya-Jie Xu1,2,† , Pei-Pei Liu1,3,† , Shyh-Chang Ng1,2,3 , Zhao-Qian Teng1,2,3 , Chang-Mei Liu1,2,3,*
1State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
2Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
These authors contributed equally to this work.
*Correspondence to:Chang-Mei Liu , Email:liuchm@ioz.ac.cn
J Mol Cell Biol, Volume 12, Issue 5, May 2020, 327-336,  https://doi.org/10.1093/jmcb/mjz114
Keyword: epigenetics, Polycomb complexes, non-coding RNAs, central nervous system, neurological diseases Introduction
High-throughput sequencing has facilitated the identification of many types of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in diverse cellular processes. NcRNAs as epigenetic mediators play key roles in neuronal development, maintenance, and dysfunction by controlling gene expression at multiple levels. NcRNAs may not only target specific DNA or RNA for gene silence but may also directly interact with chromatin-modifying proteins like Polycomb group (PcG) proteins to drive orchestrated transcriptional programs. Recent significant progress has been made in characterizing ncRNAs and PcG proteins involved in transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic regulation. More importantly, dysregulation of ncRNAs, PcG proteins, and interplay among them is closely associated with the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In this review, we focus on the interplay between ncRNAs and PcG proteins in the CNS and highlight the functional roles of the partnership during neural development and diseases.