Dark DNA and stress (Review)

Over the past few decades, research at the molecular level has focused on the part of the genome that does not encode protein sequences. Since the discovery of transcriptional evidence from the hitherto considered 'junk' DNA, this region of the genome, which is currently termed dark DNA, is constantly gaining interest. The term borrows an analogy from the corresponding eminent fields of dark matter and dark energy in physics and cosmology. In fact, an increasing number of attempts are being made to enhance the current understanding of the non-coding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts produced by such regions. Although the base-pair length and gene number appear to be very diverse between species, it appears that the amount of the non-coding regions of the genome of an organism is a sign of evolutional superiority. ncRNA molecules are able to orchestrate the expression of genetic information in the most complex, rapid and reversible manner, participating in almost every major biological process. A prime example of such a process is the maintenance of homeostasis, the internal physiological balance, despite internal and external stressful stimuli. These molecules have been shown to be excellent regulators of gene expression, with marked spatiotemporal specificity, rendering them ideal tools for regulating stress responses. Herein, an attempt is made to extract and fuse information from a repertoire of studies, which have demonstrated that the expression of a number of these molecules was modified following exposure to acute and chronic stress, as well as in patients with anxiety disorders and their respective animal models. All in all, ncRNAs have the potential to be used either as biomarkers or as therapeutic targets for disorders resulting from the loss of equilibrium, the disruption of homeostasis and the destabilization of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.