Metamorphosis and lncRNAs: A Close Relationship

The classical definition of metamorphosis is a post-embryonic transformation, such as from a tadpole to a froglet. However, recent studies suggest this process occurs to some degree in all vertebrates, as the underlying endocrine and molecular pathways are highly conserved. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing, transcriptomic data for non-model species has revealed that protein-coding genes represent only a small fraction of the genome. In contrast, most transcriptional output produces non-coding RNAs with vital regulatory functions. Among these, long non-coding RNAs are a diverse and important class known to regulate gene expression at multiple levels and across various biological contexts. Despite their established importance, the study of lncRNAs across the tree of life remains an open field, crucial for understanding their potential roles and evolutionary conservation. This work summarizes the roles of lncRNAs as regulatory molecules, their functions in development and metamorphosis, computational strategies for their characterization, and the challenges and opportunities of studying them in non-model species.