ABSTRACT
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a family of small non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules that have improved our knowledge for many of the fundamental changes in abiotic stress and their underlying molecular mechanisms. LncRNAs are a growing focus in plant biology as they play significant regulatory roles in diverse biological processes. Researchers have made significant advances in animal research, especially in humans, and a huge quantity of data have been produced, gathered, and structured using bioinformatical tools. Moreover, much research has been performed to better understand the functions of these lncRNAs in a range of human diseases. In contrast to mammalian studies, particularly human, functional dissection of plant lncRNAs lags behind. Our knowledge of plant lncRNAs is far from comprehensive, based on the research that has been done over the past decade. These lncRNAs interact with protein molecules, DNA and RNA, and modulate the expression level of their target genes via translational, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic control. In this chapter, we review the salient features of plant lncRNAs, recent advances in our knowledge of lncRNA activities, and focus on their biological role in plant adaptation to the changing climate.
