Unidentified ncRNA species and their biogenesis and functions

Identify and characterize eukaryotic non-coding RNA species whose biogenesis pathways and physiological functions are currently unknown, in order to refine and extend existing canonical and noncanonical classifications of non-coding RNAs.

Background

The manuscript notes that current understanding of non-coding RNA classification in eukaryotes is limited to canonical and noncanonical pathways, with the latter being underexamined. This suggests that additional ncRNA species likely exist but have not yet been discovered or mechanistically characterized.

Clarifying the identities, biogenesis, and functions of these unknown ncRNAs would impact system-level models of gene regulation and resolve ambiguities that complicate ncRNA classification.

References

Thus, there are probably still species of ncRNAs whose biogenesis and functions are not yet known, making a classification even more complex.

— Stumbling around uncharted regulatory structures: NAcrins, or the perspective of specialized sources of modulatory non-coding RNAs  (2506.17322 - Benzaki, 18 Jun 2025) in Introduction

GOLLD function is still completely unknown, but its structure revealed a fascinating multimeric nanocage, formed by 14 RNA chains arranged with D7 quaternary symmetry and held together by kissing loops.

— From static structures to dynamic landscapes: cryo-EM redefines RNA biology  (2609.01132 - Jadhav et al., 1 Sep 2026) in Section “Multimeric RNAs”