Exploring long non-coding RNAs through sequencing

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as an important class of regulatory transcripts that are implicated in a variety of biological functions. RNA-sequencing, along with other next-generation sequencing-based approaches, enables their study on a genome-wide scale, at maximal resolution, and across multiple conditions. This review discusses how sequencing-based studies are providing global insights into lncRNA transcription, post-transcriptional processing, expression regulation and sites of function. The next few years will deepen our insight into the overall contribution of lncRNAs to genome function and to the information flow from genotype to phenotype. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.