What happens at or after transcription: Insights into circRNA biogenesis and function

Chuan Huang; Ge Shan

doi:10.1080/21541264.2015.1071301

What happens at or after transcription: Insights into circRNA biogenesis and function

Transcription. 2015;6(4):61-4. doi: 10.1080/21541264.2015.1071301. Epub 2015 Jul 15.

Authors

Chuan Huang¹, Ge Shan¹

Affiliation

¹ a School of Life Sciences & CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease; University of Science and Technology of China ; Hefei , Anhui Province , China.

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large family of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) found in metazoans. Systematic studies of circRNAs have just begun. Here, we discuss circRNA biogenesis and functions with a focus on studies indicating great diversification of circRNAs. We highlight the recent identification of a special subtype of circRNAs, called EIciRNAs, and their role in transcriptional regulation. New insights on RNA-RNA interaction and other features associated with circRNA biology are also discussed.

Keywords: biogenesis; circular RNA; exon-intron circular RNA; microRNA sponge; transcriptional regulation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Gene Expression Regulation
Humans
Models, Genetic
Nucleic Acid Conformation
RNA / chemistry
RNA / classification
RNA / genetics*
RNA / metabolism
RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional*
RNA, Circular
RNA, Untranslated / chemistry
RNA, Untranslated / classification
RNA, Untranslated / genetics*
RNA, Untranslated / metabolism
Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear / genetics
Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear / metabolism
Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

RNA, Circular
RNA, Untranslated
Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear
RNA