Circular RNAs and their roles in tumorigenesis.

Author: Yi XIE ¹ ; Tianwen LI ¹ ; Xiaoyan MO ¹ ; Junming GUO ¹
Author Information

1. Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: circular RNA; microRNA sponge; occurrence; tumor
From: Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2016;32(11):1507-1518
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Recently, with the development of RNA research techniques, a wide variety of circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been discovered and some of them are confirmed to have crucial biological functions. CircRNAs arise from exons (i.e. exonic circRNAs) or introns (i.e. intronic circRNAs). Acting as microRNA sponges or combining with proteins, circRNAs participate in the regulation of gene expression and influence the activity of some proteins. In addition, some circRNAs even encode proteins. More importantly, several circRNAs play a key role in the occurrence and progression of some tumors, including stomach, liver, colon, breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers. Therefore, circRNAs may be a novel type of diagnostic marker and therapeutic target of cancers.