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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs
Published on: March 10, 2020
The mechanism and function of circular RNAs in human diseases
Kexin Lei1, Hetian Bai1, Zihao Wei1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract:
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a recently discovered form of RNA. Initially, circRNAs were believed to result from errors during the process of gene transcription. However, after further investigation, scientists suggested that circRNAs are of great biological significance. CircRNAs show stability, conservation, abundance, and tissue and stage specificity. They can also function as miRNA sponges, regulate gene expression, and interact with proteins to affect cell behavior. Emerging evidence has also demonstrated that circRNAs participate or show abnormal expression in diseases, including central nervous system diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancers, indicating their marked potential in the prediction and prognosis of diseases and clinical treatment.
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