Mechanisms of lncRNA function. Mechanisms of lncRNA function. Studies have described a range of mechanisms by which lncRNAs regulate their targets; many seem to depend on specific features of primary sequence, secondary structure and genomic positioning of lncRNA effector transcripts. (1) Several lncRNAs act as RNA decoys, titrating transcription factors away from their DNA targets by directly binding to them as target mimics [[12],[98]]. (2) Others work at the post‐transcriptional level as microRNA target site decoys, titrating microRNA effector complexes away from their mRNA targets [[63],[64],[65]]. lncRNAs, the microRNA target sites of which lack the structural sequence features needed for transcript degradation, have the overall effect of ‘sponging’ their microRNA regulators. (3) Many lncRNAs seem to bind to specific combinations of regulatory proteins, potentially acting as scaffold elements within ribonucleoprotein complexes [[59],[98]]. (4) Recruitment of chromatin‐modifying complexes to their DNA targets in cis has also emerged as a well‐characterized function for several mammalian lncRNAs [[57],[58]]. Recruitment in trans is not depicted [[56]]. A few lncRNAs seem to modulate direct processing of their mRNA targets, including translation (5), splicing (6) and degradation (7) [[60],[61],[62]]. lncRNA, long non‐coding RNA; mRNA, messenger RNA, RNP, Ribonucleoprotein. Wenqian Hu et al. EMBO Rep. 2012;13:971-983 © as stated in the article, figure or figure legend