Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
08:25

Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing

Published on: November 14, 2019

12.9K

Circular RNAs in metabolic health: bridging the gap between molecular biology and therapy

Yutong Huang1, Tianle He1, Jundan Zheng1

  • 1Laboratory for Bio-feed and Molecular Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.

Cell Death & Disease
|February 25, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators of fat browning, a process converting white to brown fat cells. These non-coding RNAs show promise as precision therapeutics for obesity by modulating lipid metabolism.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Metabolic Research
  • Obesity Therapeutics

Background:

  • Obesity research increasingly focuses on biological mechanisms and pharmacotherapy.
  • Fat browning, the transformation of white adipocytes to brown adipocytes, is a promising therapeutic target.
  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators in biological processes, including fat browning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biogenesis and regulatory roles of circRNAs in fat browning.
  • To explore circRNA interactions with mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in lipid metabolism.
  • To evaluate the potential of circRNAs as precision therapeutics for obesity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing current research on circRNA biogenesis and function.
  • Analysis of circRNA mechanisms in adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism.
  • Examination of circRNA's role in organelle-mediated regulation of fat browning.

Main Results:

  • CircRNAs are key modulators of fat browning through organelle-mediated pathways.
  • CircRNAs can encode peptides and regulate metabolic pathways involved in lipid metabolism.
  • Preclinical studies confirm the mechanistic efficacy of circRNAs in promoting fat browning.

Conclusions:

  • CircRNAs represent a novel class of therapeutic targets for obesity.
  • Understanding circRNA-organelle interactions is crucial for developing effective obesity treatments.
  • Clinical translation of circRNA-based therapies requires addressing delivery and tissue-specific challenges.

More Related Videos

In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions10:27

In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions

Published on: October 21, 2022

2.0K
Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs13:10

Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs

Published on: March 10, 2020

7.8K

Related Concept Videos

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
5.9K
Regulation of Metabolism01:19

Regulation of Metabolism

Cellular needs and conditions vary from cell to cell and change within individual cells over time. For example, the required enzymes and energetic demands of stomach cells are different from those of fat storage cells, skin cells, blood cells, and nerve cells. Furthermore, a digestive cell works much harder to process and break down nutrients during the time that closely follows a meal compared with many hours after a meal. As these cellular demands and conditions vary, so do the amounts and...
11.9K
Types of RNA01:23

Types of RNA

Overview
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
73.3K
Riboswitches01:56

Riboswitches

Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
9.9K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.9K
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
18.8K