A first-pass examination of the transcriptome of alcoholics and matched controls identified a number of molecular constituents within a specific brain region (Fig. 11.1). The type of RNA molecules uncovered depends on the initial experimental design, but novel biological features may also be revealed. By design, RNA-Seq of the prefrontal cortex primarily identified protein-coding transcripts and also discerned an appreciable number of pseudogenes and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) (Fig. 11.1). In addition to having recognized roles in RNA processing and ribosomal RNA modification (Eddy, 2001; Kiss, 2002), snoRNAs are implicated in regulating CNS function (Cao, Yeo, Muotri, Kuwabara, & Gage, 2006; Rogelj, Hartmann, Yeo, Hunt, & Giese, 2003). The expression of snoRNAs and other ncRNAs may have important roles in alcoholism and other diseases.
