Key public RNA databases for non-coding RNA, RNA families, sequences and structures — with links and what each covers.
Sequence and family databases
- RNAcentral — the comprehensive hub for non-coding RNA sequences, integrating dozens of expert databases in one search.
- Rfam — RNA families defined by covariance models (alignments + secondary structure); great for classifying ncRNAs.
- miRBase — the reference database of microRNA sequences and annotation.
- GtRNAdb — genomic tRNA gene predictions across organisms.
Specialised resources
- NONCODE — long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).
- Ensembl — ncRNA gene annotation within genome context.
- NCBI Nucleotide — general RNA/cDNA sequence records.
Which should I use?
Start a general search at RNAcentral (it federates the others). Use miRBase for microRNAs, Rfam to classify an RNA into a family, and GtRNAdb for tRNAs.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I look up a non-coding RNA?
RNAcentral is the best starting point — it integrates many ncRNA databases into a single search.
What is the database for microRNAs?
miRBase is the reference resource for microRNA sequences and nomenclature.
How do I classify an RNA into a family?
Use Rfam, which matches sequences to covariance models built from family alignments and structures.
