[Continuous expression and functional prediction of circular RNA in mouse lung development].

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs with diverse biological functions.
• Understanding the role of circRNAs in organ development is crucial for elucidating complex biological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression patterns of two specific circRNAs, circ4:150439343|150477468 and circ15:73330849|73343359, during mouse lung development.
• To predict the potential functions of these circRNAs in lung development.

Main Methods:

• Collected mouse lung tissue at different developmental stages (E16.5, E18.5, P2).
• Performed Hematoxylin and eosin staining to assess lung morphology.
• Utilized quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to quantify circRNA expression.
• Employed miRanda and TargetScan for miRNA target prediction, followed by GO and KEGG pathway analysis.

Main Results:

• Observed an increase in Type II alveolar epithelial cells from E16.5 to P2, with mature alveolar structures by P2.
• circ4:150439343|150477468 expression was continuously upregulated, while circ15:73330849|73343359 showed a transient downregulation followed by upregulation.
• Bioinformatic analysis indicated involvement of these circRNAs in Notch, PI3K-Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

• Circ4:150439343|150477468 and circ15:73330849|73343359 are dynamically expressed during mouse lung development.
• These circRNAs likely play a role in lung development, potentially through the Notch signaling pathway.