Emerging functions of mitochondria-encoded noncoding RNAs

• Published in: Trends in genetics Vol. 39; no. 2; pp. 125 - 139
• Main Authors: Ren, Bingbing, Guan, Min-Xin, Zhou, Tianhua, Cai, Xiujun, Shan, Ge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2023
• Subjects: Humans; mecciRNA; Mitochondria - genetics; Mitochondria - metabolism; mitochondrial dysfunction; mitosRNA; mt-lncRNA; noncoding RNA; RNA, Circular - genetics; RNA, Long Noncoding - metabolism; RNA, Untranslated - genetics; RNA, Untranslated - metabolism; mt-lncRNA; mitochondrial dysfunction; noncoding RNA; mitosRNA; mecciRNA
• ISSN: 0168-9525
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.08.004

Mitochondria, organelles that harbor their own circular genomes, are critical for energy production and homeostasis maintenance in eukaryotic cells. Recent studies discovered hundreds of mitochondria-encoded noncoding RNAs (mt-ncRNAs), including novel subtypes of mitochondria-encoded circular RNAs (mecciRNAs) and mitochondria-encoded double-stranded RNAs (mt-dsRNAs). Here, we discuss the emerging field of mt-ncRNAs by reviewing their expression patterns, biogenesis, metabolism, regulatory roles, and functional mechanisms. Many mt-ncRNAs have regulatory roles in cellular physiology, and some are associated with, or even act as, causal factors in human diseases. We also highlight developments in technologies and methodologies and further insights into future perspectives and challenges in studying these noncoding RNAs, as well as their potential biomedical applications.
The mitochondrial genome encodes hundreds of noncoding RNAs (mt-ncRNAs). Mt-rRNAs, mt-tRNAs, mt-lncRNAs, mitosRNAs, along with recently identified mecciRNAs and mt-dsRNAs, are major species of mt-ncRNAs.A variety of mt-ncRNAs have been shown to have critical roles in physiology and pathology, through diverse regulatory mechanisms. Mutations in mt-tRNAs are known genetic causes of several human hereditary diseases. Members of other mt-ncRNA species also participate in key regulatory events and disorders, such as metabolic diseases and cancers.Major advancements have been made in the toolbox for studying mitochondrial biology. Technologies such as those that allow mitochondrial genome editing will continue to drive further understandings of mt-ncRNAs in terms of their biogenesis, metabolism, functions, and functional mechanisms.