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Updated: Sep 9, 2025
08:25
Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
Published on: November 14, 2019
12.4K
Circular RNAs Regulate Transcription and Translation
1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. shahidee.zainal@umt.edu.my.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|August 31, 2025
Summary
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are versatile molecules with emerging roles in cellular functions. These non-coding RNAs can be translated into peptides, impacting various diseases and offering potential as biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed, single-stranded non-coding RNAs found across diverse organisms.
- They participate in biological processes by acting as miRNA decoys, transcriptional modulators, and interacting with RNA-binding proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the emerging roles of circRNAs in cellular physiology and disease.
- To highlight the translational potential of circRNAs and their regulatory mechanisms.
- To underscore the significance of circRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on circRNA biology and function.
- Analysis of proposed mechanisms for circRNA translation, including IRES-driven and m6A-mediated pathways.
- Examination of circRNA expression patterns in various diseases.
Main Results:
- Recent findings indicate that certain cytoplasmic circRNAs can be translated into peptides.
- Potential translation mechanisms include internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-driven and m6A-mediated cap-independent translation.
- CircRNAs exhibit unique expression profiles in multiple diseases.
Conclusions:
- CircRNAs possess a diverse regulatory role in biological processes, particularly in disease pathogenesis.
- The translational capacity of circRNAs adds a new dimension to their functional significance.
- Unique expression patterns suggest circRNAs are promising candidates for diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic interventions.
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