RNA Biogenesis and Regulatory Functions

The human genome, composed of approximately three billion nucleotides, serves as a genetic “codebook” that governs cell fate determination and organismal development. Previous studies have revealed that nearly 80% of this genomic “codebook” can be transcribed into ribonucleic acids (RNAs). However, the biogenesis pathways and functional mechanisms of these RNAs remain incompletely understood. To address this fundamental scientific question, we have developed a series of high-throughput sequencing technologies, including NAP-seq, PEN-seq, and CAN-seq, which enabled the identification of thousands of novel structural non-coding RNAs in both humans and mice. By deeply integrating computational and experimental RNAomics approaches, we systematically investigated the biogenesis mechanisms of these novel structural non-coding RNAs, mapped their dynamic intracellular distribution and regulatory networks, and further elucidated their molecular functions in gene regulation. Collectively, our studies substantially expand the current understanding of transcriptomic complexity and its regulatory mechanisms.