Non-coding RNAs up to 1,000 nucleotides in length are widespread in eukaryotes
and fulfil various regulatory functions, in particular during chromatin
remodeling and cell proliferation. These RNAs are not translated into proteins:
thus, they are non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The present review describes the
eukaryotic ncRNAs involved in transcription regulation, first and foremost,
targeting RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) and/or its major proteinaceous
transcription factors. The current state of knowledge concerning the regulatory
functions of SRA and TAR RNA, 7SK and U1 snRNA, GAS5 and DHFR RNA is summarized
herein. Special attention is given to murine B1 and B2 RNAs and human Alu RNA,
due to their ability to bind the active site of RNAP II. Discovery of bacterial
analogs of the eukaryotic small ncRNAs involved in transcription regulation,
such as 6S RNAs, suggests that they possess a common evolutionary origin.
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