small RNA sample peak at 16nt?

[vebaev]

Dear all,
besides some normal peaks of 21-22nt small/miR RNAs we had observed peaks at 16-17nt? did anybody have experience what can cause such effect?



Thanks

[silentio]

In most cases, 16-17nt sRNAs are degraded from longer sRNAs. Normally we splice sRNAs on gels which are 18-28nt in length for sequencing. Under that condition, it is unlikely sRNAs shorter than 17nt will appear in the sequencing results, and if it does appears, it is likely degradation products.