Exploring the small RNA transcriptome, a key challenge
Small RNA are involved in numerous biological process and linked to a wide range of conditions. For example miRNA can be used for detection of cancers from blood samples and are used for cancer classification. They are involved in the regulation of the messenger RNA translation.
The small RNA transcriptome is a vast world rich in information. There are not only miRNA but other small RNA that can also be used for diagnostics. For example, Repetto et al in 2015 (doi: 10.1186/s12916-015-0489-y) discovered novel small RNA in blood, s-RNY1-5p as a diagnostic biomarker for atherosclerosis-related diseases. The authors used small-RNA sequencing with the innovative CleanTag technology.