Circular RNA: an emerging key player in RNA world

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genomics
• Noncoding RNA Research

Background:

• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundant in eukaryotic transcriptomes and possess unique covalently closed loop structures, conferring high stability.
• These noncoding RNAs display tissue- and developmental-specific expression patterns, suggesting significant roles in cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in the biogenesis, properties, and functions of endogenous circRNAs.
• To discuss current findings on the involvement of circRNAs in human diseases.
• To highlight the current knowledge gaps, particularly regarding circRNA functions in plants.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature on circRNA biology.
• Analysis of high-throughput sequencing data to understand expression patterns.
• Discussion of bioinformatics tools and online resources for circRNA identification.

Main Results:

• CircRNAs can act as microRNA sponges, regulating gene transcription and acting as key regulators in cellular functions.
• Evidence suggests circRNAs are implicated in various human diseases.
• The biological roles of circRNAs in plants remain largely unexplored.

Conclusions:

• CircRNAs represent a significant and expanding class of noncoding RNAs with diverse functions.
• Further research is crucial to fully elucidate circRNA functions, especially in plant biology.
• Bioinformatics approaches are essential but require careful strategy selection due to potential for divergent results.