Study Progress on Circular RNA

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2017-0009

Abstract

Abstract: Circular RNA（circRNA）is a novel class of endogenous non-coding RNAs（ncRNA）with closed loop structure and is formed by alternative splicing from a precursor RNA（pre-mRNA）. Prior studies have discovered that circRNA widely and very stably exists in all eukaryotes. At present，the research of circRNA has become a new hotspot in the field of RNA research. It is found that circRNA accounts for a large proportion in transcripts，and some of the expressions are even higher than other transcripts. CircRNA plays a regulating role in gene expression，and an essential role in the process of biological development，such as miRNA sponges，endogenous RNAs and biomarkers，as well as critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Some studies have revealed that circRNAs play key roles in the development of some diseases，including atherosclerosis，nerve system disorders，diabetes and cancers. In this paper，we review the research progress of circular RNA，including the characteristics of circRNA，the formation process，the expression，the relationship between circRNA and disease，as well as the function of circRNA. Moreover，we discuss the significance and existing problems in studying circRNA.

Key words: circRNA, non-coding RNA, alternative splicing, RNA sequencing, biological function, expression mechanism

ZHANG Ying-yue ,MA Yue-hui ,ZHAO Qian-jun. Study Progress on Circular RNA[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2017, 33(7): 29-34.

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