Biogenesis and Regulatory Roles of Circular RNAs

Covalently closed, single-stranded circular RNAs can be produced from viral RNA genomes as well as from the processing of cellular housekeeping noncoding RNAs and precursor messenger RNAs. Recent transcriptomic studies have surprisingly uncovered that many protein-coding genes can be subjected to backsplicing, leading to widespread expression of a specific type of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in eukaryotic cells. Here, we discuss experimental strategies used to discover and characterize diverse circRNAs at both the genome and individual gene scales. We further highlight the current understanding of how circRNAs are generated and how the mature transcripts function. Some circRNAs act as noncoding RNAs to impact…

• CP
  Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 31730111, 91940306, 31925011, 31725009, 91940303
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R35-GM119735, R01-NS099371
• NK
  National Key Research and Development Program of China

  Award: 2021YFA1300500