Fig. 1

The molecular mechanisms underlying esophageal cancer-related lncRNAs rely on interactions with cellular macromolecules. (a) LncRNAs localize to the chromatin. LncRNAs recruit chromatin modification complexes to the promoter region of chromatin and the results in (1) histone methylation or acetylation, (2) DNA methylation; lncRNAs recruit chromatin modification complexes to specific loci of chromatin and modulate gene expression through (3) chromatin modification. (b) LncRNAs interacts with RNA. (4) LncRNAs interacts with pre-mRNA, affect alternative splicing and help to produce mature mRNAs; (5) lncRNAs act as miRNA sponges or compete for endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and compete for miRNAs to inactivate these small regulatory RNAs, followed by relief of the repression of the target gene. (c) LncRNAs interact with proteins.( 6) LncRNAs regulates protein dephosphorylation and activity; (7) lncRNAs regulate protein localization; (8) lncRNAs modulate protein–protein interactions; (9) lncRNAs directly localize within cellular compartments to serve as structural components