Long Non-coding RNA in Plants in the Era of Reference Sequences

Area of Science:

• Plant molecular biology
• Genomics
• RNA biology

Background:

• Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are increasingly recognized for their regulatory roles in plants.
• Historically overlooked as

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the challenges and opportunities in identifying and characterizing lncRNAs in important crops like wheat and barley.
• To emphasize the potential of high-quality genomic resources for advancing lncRNA research.

Main Methods:

• Review of current challenges in lncRNA identification, including sequence conservation and expression patterns.
• Discussion of RNA sequencing and in silico approaches for lncRNA mining.
• Exploration of transcriptomic and genomic resources for lncRNA discovery.

Main Results:

• lncRNAs possess mRNA-like structures and regulate gene expression in plant stress responses.
• Sequence conservation and tissue-specific expression patterns complicate in silico lncRNA identification.
• Limited knowledge exists regarding lncRNAs in wheat and barley.

Conclusions:

• High-quality wheat and barley genomes offer promising resources for lncRNA identification.
• Understanding lncRNA functions is vital for crop improvement and addressing food demand.
• Future research should focus on lncRNA interactions to define novel functional networks for crop enhancement.