riboCIRC: a comprehensive database of translatable circRNAs.

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Genomics

Background:

• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their regulatory roles.
• The translatability of circRNAs, producing functional peptides, is an emerging area of research.
• A centralized resource for translatable circRNAs is needed to facilitate further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present riboCIRC, a comprehensive database for translatable circRNAs.
• To provide tools for exploring, analyzing, and visualizing circRNA translation data.
• To support research into the functions and conservation of translated circRNAs.

Main Methods:

• Computational prediction of ribosome-associated circRNAs.
• Manual curation of experimentally validated translated circRNAs.
• De novo annotation of circRNA-encoded peptides (sequence, structure, function).
• Cross-species conservation analysis of translatable circRNAs.
• Integration of a genome browser for visualization.

Main Results:

• A repository of computationally predicted and experimentally verified translatable circRNAs.
• Systematic annotation of putative circRNA-encoded peptides.
• Evaluation of the evolutionary conservation of translatable circRNAs.
• A genome browser for visualizing circRNA translation footprints.

Conclusions:

• riboCIRC serves as a valuable, publicly accessible resource for the circRNA research community.
• The database facilitates the exploration and analysis of translatable circRNAs and their encoded peptides.
• It supports further research into the biological significance of circRNA translation.