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The variables on RNA molecules: concert or cacophony? Answers in long-read sequencing

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Long-read sequencing has become a widely employed technology that enables a comprehensive view of RNA transcripts. Here, we discuss the importance of long-read sequencing in interpreting the variables along RNA molecules, such as polyadenylation sites, transcription start sites, splice sites and other RNA modifications. In addition, we highlight the history of short-read and long-read technologies and their advantages and disadvantages, as well as future directions in the field.

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Fig. 1: RNA variables and their non-random combinations.
Fig. 2: Long-read sequencing applications.
Fig. 3: An overview and timeline of various SRS and LRS technologies.

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Acknowledgements

H.U.T. is supported by NIGMS grant 1R01GM135247-01, Brain Initiative grant 1RF1MH121267-01, NIDA grant U01 DA053625-01 and the Feil Family Foundation. C.F. is supported by NSF GRFP No. NSF 2139291. N.B. is supported by NIDA T32 grant 5T32DA039080-0. S.P. is supported by NIGMS grant 1R01GM135247-03S1. Opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NSF or NIH.

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C.F., J.H., J.J. and H.U.T. wrote the manuscript. W.H., N.B., S.P., Y.I. and A.J. revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hagen U. Tilgner.

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Foord, C., Hsu, J., Jarroux, J. et al. The variables on RNA molecules: concert or cacophony? Answers in long-read sequencing. Nat Methods 20, 20–24 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-022-01715-9

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