High-Throughput Methods to Detect Long Non-Coding RNAs

Increasing evidence suggests that the numbers of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are more than those of protein-coding genes in various organisms. Although the detection methods for lncRNAs are being increasingly established, there are advantages and disadvantages that exist for each method. In this opinion article, I highlight the differences between microarrays and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) for the detection of lncRNAs. Compared to RNA-seq, microarrays are limited to the known sequences. However, the detection method as well as data analysis workflow is more established, which makes it easier to analyze the data for bench scientists without extensive knowledge about computer programming. In order to highlight the usage of microarrays over RNA-seq for the detection of lncRNAs, we are organizing a special issue for High-Throughput called "Microarrays in Non-Coding RNAs Profiling", which will include the specific usages of microarrays for lncRNAs.