Circular RNAs: implications of signaling pathways and bioinformatics in human cancer

Fan Hu1, Yin Peng1, Xinmin Fan1

  • 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Disease Prevention and Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.

Insights

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators in gene expression and biological processes. These molecules show significant roles in cancer progression and hold promise as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are endogenous RNA transcripts regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally.
  • They function as microRNA sponges, RNA-binding proteins, and translation templates.
  • circRNAs are implicated in various biological processes, including cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological characteristics and functions of circRNAs, with a focus on their roles in cancer.
  • To examine signaling pathways associated with carcinogenesis and circRNA involvement.
  • To assess the current status of circRNA-associated bioinformatics databases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of circRNA biological characteristics and functions.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways involved in cancer development.
  • Evaluation of circRNA-disease association studies and bioinformatics databases.

Main Results:

  • circRNAs play diverse roles in gene regulation, including transcriptional regulation and splicing.
  • They are significantly involved in cancer progression and can act as biomarkers.
  • Computational models and databases are advancing the study of circRNA-disease associations.

Conclusions:

  • circRNAs are crucial in cellular functions and cancer development.
  • circRNAs hold potential as prognostic biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
  • Further research into circRNA-associated bioinformatics is essential for clinical applications.

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