Circular RNAs: Biogenesis, properties, roles, and their relationships with liver diseases

Ting Yao; Qingqing Chen; Liyun Fu; Junming Guo

doi:10.1111/hepr.12871

Circular RNAs: Biogenesis, properties, roles, and their relationships with liver diseases

Hepatol Res. 2017 May;47(6):497-504. doi: 10.1111/hepr.12871. Epub 2017 Mar 20.

Authors

Ting Yao¹, Qingqing Chen¹, Liyun Fu², Junming Guo¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
² Ningbo No. 2 Hospital and the Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.

PMID: 28185365
DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12871

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of new-found RNA molecules that have a special covalent loop structure without a 5' cap and 3' tail. Researchers have found that circRNAs may be generated by intron-pairing-driven or lariat-driven circularization. They are cleared up by way of extracellular vesicles. They have some advantages such as stability, conservation, and tissue specificity. By serving as sponges of microRNAs, interacting with long non-coding RNAs, mRNA, or proteins, circRNAs regulate gene expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and contribute to carcinogenesis. In recent years, circRNAs have been found to be correlated with many cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma, one of the most common cancers with high mortality. This article will first introduce the biogenesis, properties, and functions of circRNAs. Then we focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying some circRNAs, including hsa_circ_0001649, hsa_circ_0005075, and cerebellar degeneration-related protein 1 antisense, on hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis.

Keywords: circular RNAs; gene expression; hepatocellular carcinoma; metastasis.

Publication types

Review