ncRNAs: types, average nucleotide (nt) lengths, and key functions

ClassTypeLength (nt)Function
Housekeeping ncRNAsRibosomal RNA (rRNA)> 1,500Protein synthesis
Transfer RNA (tRNA)76–90Protein synthesis
Small nuclear RNA (snRNA)100–300RNA processing
Small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA)60–200Pre-mRNA processing
Regulatory ncRNAsShort ncRNAs (< 200 nt)MicroRNA (miRNA)18–22Protein translation regulation
Small interfering RNA (siRNA)20–25Post-translation mRNA regulation; antiviral defense
Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA)26–31Silencing of transposable elements
Long ncRNAs (> 200 nt)Long ncRNAs (lncRNAs)~ 1 kbSpatiotemporal gene expression (cell differentiation); modification of 3D chromatin architecture; protein scaffolding; miRNA sponging
Circular RNA (circRNA)100–999miRNA sponging; protein scaffolding; gene expression (cell/tissue development)

3D: three-dimensional; ncRNAs: noncoding RNAs