Long non-coding RNAs: modulators of nuclear structure and function

Long non-coding (lnc)RNAs are emerging key factors in the regulation of various cellular processes. In the nucleus, these include the organization of nuclear sub-structures, the alteration of chromatin state, and the regulation of gene expression through the interaction with effector proteins and modulation of their activity. Collectively, lncRNAs form the core of attractive models explaining aspects of structural and dynamic regulation in the nucleus across time and space. Here we review recent studies that characterize the molecular function of a subset of these molecules in the regulation and fine-tuning of nuclear state.