LncRNA H19 inhibition impairs endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contact in hepatic cells and augments gluconeogenesis by increasing VDAC1 levels.

Inspite of exerting independent cellular functions, the endoplasmic-reticulum (ER) and the mitochondria also physically connect at specific sites termed mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs) and these sites consist of several tethering proteins that play varied roles in diverse cellular processes. However, the regulation of these tethering proteins within the cell is relatively less studied. Here, we show that several MAM proteins are significantly altered in the liver during diabetes and among these, the lncRNA, H19 regulates the levels of VDAC1.

LncRNAs in cancer: Regulatory and therapeutic implications.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) comprise a class of RNAs that do not code for proteins but are critical in regulating diverse cellular processes and maintaining cell function. In doing so, they have, in recent years, added a potentially new and significant layer of biological regulation. These are more than 200 nucleotides in length and are implicated in a range of diseases and therefore have emerged as potential tools for possible therapeutic intervention.