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Enhancers Silence Coupled-coding RNAs in Animals

Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The exact working mechanism and biogenesis of regulatory non-coding RNAs (rncRNAs), including enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), piRNAs, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), transposons, and other non-coding RNAs, remain enigmatic. Conversely, the unique transcriptional regulation mechanism that differentiates animals from simple unicellular organisms remains elusive in life sciences. We find that regulatory non-coding genes are independent transcription units marked with arginine methylation of nucleosomes within their gene bodies, which is regulated by JMJD5. Enhancer RNAs are similar to those of other regulatory RNAs in targeting the 3-prime UTRs of coupled coding RNAs. All regulatory RNA genes share transcription factors with their target coding genes, both of which are regulated by promoter-proximal RNA Polymerase II pausing and may control the development of animals. Temporal and spatial coding genes and regulatory non-coding genes are intrinsically coupled in animals.
DOI: 10.64898/2026.11.03.763931
Authors: Gongyi Zhang, Lingbo Li, Song Mei, Haolin Liu, Xinjian Liu, Qianqian Zhang, Ernesto Guccione, Haitao Li, Chuanyuan Li
Institutions: National Jewish Health, Shanxi Medical University, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, National Vaccine and Serum Institute, Duke University, Zhejiang University, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Tsinghua University
Language: English
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225230422
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