New lncRNA annotation reveals extensive functional divergence of the transcriptome in maize.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), whose sequences are approximately 200 bp or longer and unlikely to encode proteins, may play an important role in eukaryotic gene regulation. Although the latest maize (Zea mays L.) reference genome provides an essential genomic resource, genome-wide annotations of maize lncRNAs have not been updated.