Approaching marine bioprospecting in hexacorals by RNA deep sequencing

RNA deep sequencing represents a new complementary approach in marine bioprospecting. Next-generation sequencing platforms have recently been developed for de novo whole transcriptome analysis, small RNA discovery and gene expression profiling. Deep sequencing transcriptomics (sequencing the complete set of cellular transcripts at a specific stage or condition) leads to sequential identification of all expressed genes in a sample. When combined to high-throughput bioinformatics and protein synthesis, RNA deep sequencing represents a new powerful approach in gene product discovery and bioprospecting. Here we summarize recent progress in the analyses of hexacoral transcriptomes with the focus on cold-water sea anemones and related organisms.