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Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs
Published on: March 10, 2020
Circular RNAs in Cancer
Duc-Hiep Bach1, Sang Kook Lee2, Anil K Sood3
1College of Pharmacy, Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Abstract:
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded closed RNA molecules that are formed by precursor mRNA back-splicing or skipping events of thousands of genes in eukaryotes as covalently closed continuous loops. High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics approaches have uncovered the broad expression of circRNAs across species. Their high stability, abundance, and evolutionary conservation among species points to their distinct properties and diverse cellular functions as efficient microRNAs and protein sponges; they also play important roles in modulating transcription and splicing. Additionally, most circRNAs are aberrantly expressed in pathological conditions and in a tissue-specific manner such as development and progression of cancer. Herein, we highlight the characteristics, functions, and mechanisms of action of circRNAs in cancer; we also provide an overview of recent progress in the circRNA field and future application of circRNAs as cancer biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
Insights
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable RNA molecules with diverse functions. Aberrant circRNA expression is linked to cancer, highlighting their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed RNA loops formed by back-splicing.
- They are highly stable, abundant, and conserved across species.
- circRNAs function as microRNA sponges, protein sponges, and regulators of transcription and splicing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the characteristics, functions, and mechanisms of circRNAs in cancer.
- To provide an overview of recent advancements in circRNA research.
- To discuss the potential of circRNAs as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing
- Bioinformatics analysis
- Literature review
Main Results:
- circRNAs are broadly expressed across species and exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns.
- Aberrant expression of circRNAs is observed in various pathological conditions, particularly in cancer.
- circRNAs possess diverse cellular functions, including gene regulation and acting as molecular sponges.
Conclusions:
- circRNAs play significant roles in cancer development and progression.
- circRNAs hold promise as diagnostic biomarkers for cancer.
- circRNAs represent novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
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