In the last few decades, small regulatory RNA (sRNA) molecules emerged as key regulators in every kingdom of life. Resolving the full targetome of sRNAs has however remained a challenge. To address this, we used an in vivo tagging MS2-affinity purification protocol coupled with RNA sequencing technology, namely MAPS, to assemble full bacterial small RNAs targetomes. The impressive potential of MAPS has been supported by a number of reports. Here, we concisely overview RNA-tagging history that preceded the development of the MAPS assay and expose the range of possible uses of this technology.
Keywords: Affinity purification; MS2; RNA purification; RNA sponge; RNA tag; RybB; RyhB; antisense; sRNA; tRNA.