Circular RNAs: Isolation, characterization and their potential role in diseases
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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs
Published on: March 10, 2020
Lumei Liu1,2, Jian Wang3, Ramin Khanabdali4
1a Department of Geriatrics , Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , China.
Abstract:
Circular RNA (circRNA) generated by alternative splicing represents a special class of non-coding RNA molecule. CircRNAs are abundant in the eukaryotic cell cytoplasm and have a characteristic organization, timing of action and disease specificity. In contrast to linear RNA, circRNAs are resistant to RNA exonuclease. Consequently, circRNA escapes normal RNA turnover and this improves circRNA stability. CircRNAs can be degraded by microRNA (miRNA) and this results in linearization of the circRNA, which can then act as competitor to endogenous RNA. Through interactions with disease-related miRNA, circRNA can play an important regulatory role in specific diseases. Furthermore, circRNAs have significant potential to become new clinical diagnostic markers.
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