SortMeRNA

SortMeRNA identifies and removes ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences from next-generation sequencing (NGS) metatranscriptomic reads to enrich messenger RNA (mRNA) and other non-rRNA components for downstream analyses.

Key Features:

• Rapid rRNA identification and removal: Rapidly identifies and removes rRNA sequences from large-scale NGS reads.
• High-sensitivity rRNA matching: Matches rRNA fragments to its reference databases with high sensitivity.
• Low computational running time: Maintains low computational running time suitable for extensive metatranscriptomic datasets.
• rRNA fragment sorting: Separates and outputs rRNA-matching fragments to enrich mRNA and other non-rRNA components for downstream analysis.
• Metatranscriptomic focus: Optimized for NGS data derived from microbial communities in metatranscriptomic studies.
• Facilitates downstream analyses: Enables improved gene expression profiling and phylogenetic classification by reducing abundant rRNA reads.

Scientific Applications:

• Metatranscriptomic preprocessing: Preprocessing of NGS metatranscriptomic data to remove rRNA for mRNA-focused analysis.
• Gene expression analysis: Improves detection and quantification of mRNA for microbial gene expression studies.
• Phylogenetic classification: Reduces rRNA-derived noise to support phylogenetic classification of species present in a sample.
• Ecological and evolutionary studies: Supports ecological and evolutionary investigations by clarifying community transcriptomic signals.

Methodology:

Matches reads to rRNA reference databases to identify and remove rRNA fragments, achieving high-sensitivity detection while minimizing computational runtime.