@usp.br
Universidade de São Paulo
Genome and Transposable Elements
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are gaining increasing recognition due to their association with what was once considered "junk DNA" often dismissed in earlier studies. However, it is now known that these sequences play a pivotal role in gene regulation and contribute significantly to organismal complexity. This class of molecules may also be derived from transposable elements (TEs) and participate in regulating these repetitive sequences, influencing development and responses to disease or stress to which the organism is exposed. Little is known about the impact of lncRNAs in polyploid genomes, such as that of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.). In addition to technical challenges related to mapping and predicting lncRNAs in a genome with millions of transcripts and over 60% TE content, there is a need for strategies to predict their function based on their structure, utilizing RNA folding models and artificial intelligence (AI).