Noncoding RNAs in Apicomplexan Parasites: An Update

• Published in: Trends in parasitology 2020-10, Vol.36 (10), p.835-849
• Main Authors: Li, Yiran, Baptista, Rodrigo P., Kissinger, Jessica C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apicomplexa; lncRNA; ncRNA; sncRNA
• ISSN: 1471-4922; 1471-5007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.07.006

Recent breakthroughs in high-throughput technologies, transcriptomics, and advances in our understanding of gene regulatory networks have enhanced our perspective on the complex interplay between parasite and host. Noncoding RNA molecules have been implicated in critical roles covering a broad range of biological processes in the Apicomplexa. Processes that are affected range from parasite development to host–parasite interactions and include interactions with epigenetic machinery and other regulatory factors. Here we review recent progress involving noncoding RNAs and their functions in the Apicomplexa, with a focus on three parasites: Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, and Cryptosporidium. We discuss the limitations and challenges of current methods applied to apicomplexan noncoding RNA study and discuss future directions in this exciting field. Recent advances in experimental and sequencing technologies have revealed new classes and several new functions for noncoding RNA (ncRNA) in the Apicomplexa.Some ncRNAs have been shown to be associated with the epigenetic machinery and participate in parasite development and manipulation of host gene expression.ncRNAs remain understudied in the Apicomplexa. Experimental and algorithmic methodologies need to be optimized to better understand ncRNA in these highly divergent, non-model species.