Connecting long noncoding RNA structures and biochemical functions to disease

The Hargrove lab discusses progress towards the molecular characterization of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a relatively new class of biomacromolecules implicated in a wide range of biological processes and human diseases. Despite the widely-recognized importance of lncRNAs, biochemical and biophysical studies are still in early stages. This Current Topics article in Biochemistry describes and analyzes the techniques currently in use to study the structure, interactions, and functions of lncRNAs as well as novel methods and tools that may soon gain wider application.