Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.3
4.3
Journals
Biology
Special Issues
Non-Coding RNA Research and Functional Insights
share announcement

Non-Coding RNA Research and Functional Insights

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1618

Editors

Dr. Zorana Dobrijević

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: microRNA; lncRNA; oxidative stress; inflammation; metabolism; diabetes; reproductive endocrinology; cancer; extracellular vesicles; biomarkers
Dr. Milos Brkusanin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: molecular genetics; molecular diagnostics; human genetics; biomarkers; neuromuscular disorders; non-coding RNA

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Non-coding RNAs are a class of functional RNA molecules that regulate gene expression through diverse molecular mechanisms. They have been implicated in key physiological and pathological processes, and are therefore closely linked to aging, development, reproduction, metabolism, and the pathophysiology of numerous diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have tissue- and disease-specific expression patterns and act through direct involvement in regulatory pathways. Besides their functional significance and associated mechanisms, the potential of these molecules as biomarkers has become a major research focus, as many ncRNAs exhibit high stability in circulation and can reflect underlying molecular alterations. This Special Issue will showcase original research articles and reviews on miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, highlighting their functional properties, regulatory roles, and biomarker potential. Therefore, we invite submissions of high-quality manuscripts that address all aspects related to the cell biology, genetics, physiology, and biochemistry of ncRNAs, including their mechanistic roles in normal cellular processes, intercellular communication, disease pathogenesis, and potential biomarker applications.

Dr. Zorana Dobrijević
Dr. Milos Brkusanin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • non-coding RNA
  • microRNA
  • long non-coding RNA
  • circular RNA
  • gene expression regulation
  • biomarkers
  • epigenetics

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

27 pages, 7219 KB  
Article
Bioinformatics Analysis of microRNAs Associated with Metastatic Potential in Breast Cancer
by Aleksandra Nikezić, Sanja Goč, Jovana Stevanović, Miloš Brkušanin, Olgica Nedić, Jovana Jovankić and Zorana Dobrijević
Biology 2026, 15(8), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15080617 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 722
Abstract
Dysregulation of microRNA expression in breast cancer (BC) has been associated with molecular disturbances involved in cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. Specific microRNAs also act as endocrine modulators in BC, thereby influencing the biological behavior of the tumor and drug responses. Our objective [...] Read more.
Dysregulation of microRNA expression in breast cancer (BC) has been associated with molecular disturbances involved in cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. Specific microRNAs also act as endocrine modulators in BC, thereby influencing the biological behavior of the tumor and drug responses. Our objective was to employ bioinformatics tools to identify and characterize microRNAs acting as candidate players involved in epithelial–mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, and/or hormonal regulation in BC. We systematically integrated microRNA profiling data from three different studies on BC cell lines with different invasive capabilities and from another study on lymph node metastases and matching primary BC, resulting in five microRNA hits—DE-microRNAs miR-146a-5p, miR-222-3p, miR-205-5p, miR-141-3p and miR-200c-3p. This set of microRNAs was evaluated for clinical significance in BC and subjected to target prediction, microRNA–mRNA network construction, functional enrichment analysis and quantification in BC cell lines by qPCR. An upregulated DE-microRNA, miR-222-3p, displayed distinctive pro-metastatic features, supported by its clinical relevance, as well as by the results of the functional enrichment analysis of its target genes. Downregulation of the members of the miR-200 family and miR-205-5p were significantly associated with negative clinical features, while their targets were enriched with genes that were relevant to cancer aggressiveness. These results are in line with the presumed functional relevance of the selected DE-microRNAs in BC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-Coding RNA Research and Functional Insights)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2460 KB  
Article
Exercise-Induced Meat Quality Improvement Is Associated with an lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Network in Tibetan Sheep
by Pengfei Zhao, Zhiyong Jiang, Xin He, Ting Tian, Fang He and Xiong Ma
Biology 2026, 15(2), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15020158 - 16 Jan 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 582
Abstract
Tibetan sheep, a unique breed indigenous to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, exhibit remarkable adaptations to high-altitude hypoxia, and their muscle quality is a key economic determinant. However, the molecular mechanisms by which exercise regulates meat quality in this breed remain poorly understood. This study [...] Read more.
Tibetan sheep, a unique breed indigenous to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, exhibit remarkable adaptations to high-altitude hypoxia, and their muscle quality is a key economic determinant. However, the molecular mechanisms by which exercise regulates meat quality in this breed remain poorly understood. This study aimed to systematically investigate the effects of different exercise volumes on the biceps femoris muscle of Tibetan sheep, integrating histological analysis with high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. We compared a low-exercise group with a high-exercise group and found that long-term endurance exercise resulted in phenotypic changes suggestive of a shift toward oxidative muscle fiber characteristics. This adaptation was characterized by significantly reduced muscle fiber diameter and cross-sectional area, alongside a crucial increase in intramuscular fat content, collectively enhancing meat tenderness, flavor, and juiciness. Transcriptomic analysis revealed extensive gene expression reprogramming, identifying 208 mRNAs and 490 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed and primarily associated with muscle fiber transition and energy metabolism. Furthermore, we constructed a putative lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing endogenous RNA network based on expression correlations and bioinformatic predictions, highlighting potential key regulatory axes such as LOC105603384/miR-16-z/MYLK3, LOC121820630/miR-381-y/NOX4, and LOC132659150/oar-miR-329a-3p/NF1. These findings provide a new perspective on the molecular basis of exercise-induced muscle adaptation in high-altitude animals and offer a solid theoretical framework for improving meat quality through scientific livestock management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-Coding RNA Research and Functional Insights)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop