CircRNAs and their regulatory roles in cancers

Molecular Medicine

Shaoqing Ju¹  Weiwei Zhang²  Yanhua Xu³  Ming Zheng³  Shuo Ma³  Mei Tao³ 

[1] Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road, No.20, 226001, Nantong, Jiangsu, China;Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road, No.20, 226001, Nantong, Jiangsu, China;Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, Jiangsu, China;Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road, No.20, 226001, Nantong, Jiangsu, China;Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, Jiangsu, China;Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, 226001, Nantong, Jiangsu, China;

关键词: Circular RNA (circRNA);    N-6 methylation (m6A);    Biogenesis;    Translation;    Degradation;    Cancers;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s10020-021-00359-3

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel type of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), have a covalently closed circular structure resulting from pre-mRNA back splicing via spliceosome and ribozymes. They can be classified differently in accordance with different criteria. As circRNAs are abundant, conserved, and stable, they can be used as diagnostic markers in various diseases and targets to develop new therapies. There are various functions of circRNAs, including sponge for miR/proteins, role of scaffolds, templates for translation, and regulators of mRNA translation and stability. Without m7G cap and poly-A tail, circRNAs can still be degraded in several ways, including RNase L, Ago-dependent, and Ago-independent degradation. Increasing evidence indicates that circRNAs can be modified by N-6 methylation (m6A) in many aspects such as biogenesis, nuclear export, translation, and degradation. In addition, they have been proved to play a regulatory role in the progression of various cancers. Recently, methods of detecting circRNAs with high sensitivity and specificity have also been reported. This review presents a detailed overview of circRNAs regarding biogenesis, biomarker, functions, degradation, and dynamic modification as well as their regulatory roles in various cancers. It’s particularly summarized in detail in the biogenesis of circRNAs, regulation of circRNAs by m6A modification and mechanisms by which circRNAs affect tumor progression respectively. Moreover, existing circRNA detection methods and their characteristics are also mentioned.

【 授权许可】

CC BY