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Research advance in circular RNAs

QI Yu-Han¹, LIU Ze-Peng¹, ZHANG Wei-Jie¹, SHI Ping-Fan², QIN Shuang², SHAO Zhi-Hua^2,*

¹School of Stomatology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China；²Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous, covalently closed, single-stranded RNA without 3’-poly(A) and 5’-cap structures. CircRNAs are characterized by universality, diversity, stability and conservation, and have been found to regulate mammalian transcription and be translated into proteins. In this review, we summarized the biogenesis, classification, expression, distribution, biological functions and regulation of circRNAs. In addition, we discussed the association of circRNAs with diseases and the methods for identification and characterization of circRNAs. Finally, we speculated the application prospect and research direction of circRNAs.

Key words: circular RNAs; biogenesis; function; disease

Received: 2018-10-13　　Accepted: 2018-12-13

Corresponding author: 邵志华　　E-mail: zhihua_shao@163.com

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2019.0052

Citing This Article：

QI Yu-Han, LIU Ze-Peng, ZHANG Wei-Jie, SHI Ping-Fan, QIN Shuang, SHAO Zhi-Hua. Research advance in circular RNAs. Acta Physiol Sin 2019; 71 (4): 613-624 (in Chinese with English abstract).