Molecular mechanisms of circular RNA translation

Abstract Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed single-stranded RNAs without a 5′ cap structure and a 3′ poly(A) tail typically present in linear mRNAs of eukaryotic cells. CircRNAs are predominantly generated through a back-splicing process within the nucleus. CircRNAs have long been considered non-coding RNAs seemingly devoid of protein-coding potential. However, many recent studies have challenged this idea and have provided substantial evidence that a subset of circRNAs can associate with polysomes and indeed be translated. Therefore, in this review, we primarily highlight the 5’ cap-independent internal initiation of translation that occurs on circular RNAs. Several molecular features of circRNAs,…

• NR
  National Research Foundation

  Awards: NRF-2015R1A3A2033665, NRF-2018R1A5A1024261
• NR
  National Research Foundation of Korea

  Awards: 2022M3E5F1017965, 2018R1A5A1024261