Overview

• BigHorn applies machine learning to over 27,000 samples, outperforming previous methods in predicting lncRNA–DNA interactions.
• Researchers discovered that hundreds of lncRNAs regulate genes through coordinated transcriptional activation and post-transcriptional mRNA protection across diverse cancer types.
• Study authors validated the mechanism by showing ZFAS1 both activates the cancer gene DICER1 and shields its mRNA from degradation.
• This dual regulation creates tightly coupled expression networks that are especially consequential for controlling cancer-related gene programs.
• The open availability of BigHorn offers a foundational resource for scientists to explore lncRNA functions in development, aging, and disease.