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Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
Published on: November 14, 2019
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Biogenesis of Circular RNAs.
Quentin Vicens1, Eric Westhof1
1Institut de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire du CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, 67 084 Strasbourg, France.
Cell
|September 27, 2014
Summary
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are formed during splicing. Two studies reveal circRNA formation depends on tissue type and intronic sequences, with one gene potentially yielding multiple circRNA types.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- RNA Biology
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules formed through various splicing mechanisms.
- Understanding the regulation and diversity of circRNA biogenesis is crucial for comprehending their biological roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the competition between exon circularization and linear splicing.
- To elucidate the mechanisms governing exon circularization.
- To determine the potential for generating multiple circRNA transcripts from a single gene.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of splicing patterns across different tissues.
- Investigation of the role of flanking intronic sequences in exon circularization.
Main Results:
- Exon circularization and linear splicing are shown to compete in a tissue-specific manner.
- Exon circularization is dependent on complementary sequences within the flanking introns.
- Multiple distinct circular RNA transcripts can originate from the same gene locus.
Conclusions:
- The biogenesis of circular RNAs is regulated by tissue-specific splicing choices.
- Intronic sequence complementarity is a key determinant for exon circularization.
- A single gene can serve as a template for a diverse repertoire of circular RNAs.
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