Long noncoding RNA,

Introduction: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a fascinating, but still largely uncharacterized, class of genes. Recently, lncRNAs have attracted significant attention due to their emerging functions in development and disease. The role of lncRNAs in chromosome instability or aneuploidy is not extensively studied. Methods: We started with the objective of characterizing lncRNAs that play an important role in chromosome instability (CIN) or aneuploidy. Here, we report the initial functional characterization of PURPL in the context of chromosomal instability or aneuploidy. Results: We report the over-expression of lncRNA PURPL in three experimental models of chromosomal instability, or aneuploidy. In addition, the study also showed that the extent or magnitude of PURPL expression is dependent upon p53 status. Our research also showed that turning off PURPL is enough to create a CIN phenotype in RPE-1 cell lines that were previously karyotypically stable. Moreover, PURPL knockdown cells are more sensitive to CIN or aneuploidy inducers. Discussion: These findings show that PURPL is essential for maintaining chromosomal or genomic stability in mammalian cells. Collectively, the study demonstrated that lncRNA-PURPL significantly contributes to CIN, or aneuploidy.