AlnC: An extensive database of long non-coding RNAs in Angiosperms

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a major role in diverse biological processes that are contemplated to have diverse regulatory roles in plants. While lncRNAs have been described and annotated in major plant species, many of plant species lack annotated lncRNAs despite the availability of transcriptome data in public repositories. In this study, we have identified and annotated the lncRNAs in the transcriptomic data from the 1000 plant genome project (1KP), and developed a user-friendly, open-access database called AlnC. This can be used for the exploration of lncRNAs in 682 Angiosperm plants. The current version of AlnC offers 10,855,598 annotated lncRNA transcripts across 809 sample tissues of diverse flowering plants. To enhance the AlnC interface, we have provided the features for browsing, searching and downloading of lncRNA data, interactive graphics, and online BLAST service. In addition to these information, each lncRNA record is annotated with possible Short open reading frames (e.g. sORFs) to facilitate the study of peptides encoded within lncRNAs. With this user-friendly interface, we assume that AlnC will serve as a rich source of lncRNAs that will contribute to small-and large-scale studies in a wide range of flowering plants.