The Diversity and Function of Noncoding RNAs in Archaea

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are present in all three domains of life and are involved as major players in the control of cellular base functions, organism development and stress response. They form a class of transcripts (RNAs) that are not translated into proteins, but function directly as RNAs. The term “small RNA” (sRNA) is also found in the literature to designate small ncRNAs in archaea. This chapter reviews computational and experimental methods for identifying ncRNAs, as well as describes the main sub-classes of ncRNAs known in archaea, distinguishing them according to their level of characterization, their mode of action, their role, their size or their involvement in a specific process. Characterization of ncRNAs in archaea remains limited when compared to eukaryotes and bacteria. The limiting factor is that very few archaea species can be cultivated in the laboratory.