Noncoding RNAs in the Brain

Cells transcribe thousands of RNAs that do not appear to encode proteins. The neuronal functions of these noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are for the most part not known, but specific ncRNAs have been shown to regulate dendritic spine development, neuronal fate specification and differentiation, and synaptic protein synthesis. ncRNAs have been implicated in a number of neuronal diseases including Tourette's syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. Future studies will likely identify additional neuronal functions for ncRNAs as well as roles for these molecules in other neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.