title: RNA captor: a tool for RNA characterization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the genome era, characterizing the structure and the function of RNA molecules remains a major challenge. Alternative transcripts and non-protein-coding genes are poorly recognized by the current genome-annotation algorithms and efficient tools are needed to isolate the less-abundant or stable RNAs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A universal RNA-tagging method using the T4 RNA ligase 2 and special adapters is reported. Based on this system, protocols for RACE PCR and full-length cDNA library construction have been developed. The RNA tagging conditions were thoroughly optimized and compared to previous methods by using a biochemical oligonucleotide tagging assay and RACE PCRs on a range of transcripts. In addition, two large-scale full-length cDNA inventories relying on this method are presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RNA Captor is a straightforward and accessible protocol. The sensitivity of this approach was shown to be higher compared to previous methods, and applicable on messenger RNAs, non-protein-coding RNAs, transcription-start sites and microRNA-directed cleavage sites of transcripts. This strategy could also be used to study other classes of RNA and in deep sequencing experiments.
authors.affiliation: URGV Plant Genomics, INRA UMR1165 UEVE/CNRS ERL 8196, Evry, France. clepet@evry.inra.fr
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clepet
mesh_terms: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D011130:RNA Ligase (ATP) / Q000378:metabolism; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012313:RNA; D011130:RNA Ligase (ATP); C467724:bacteriophage T4 RNA ligase 2