Circular RNAs Act as miRNA Sponges

Abstract

Majority of RNAs expressed in animal cells lack protein-coding ability. Unlike other cellular RNAs, circular (circ)RNAs include a large family of noncoding (nc)RNAs that lack the 5' or 3' ends. The improvements in high-throughput RNA sequencing and novel bioinformatics tools have led to the identification of thousands of circRNAs in various organisms. CircRNAs can regulate gene expression by influencing the transcription, the mRNA turnover, and translation by sponging RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs. Given the broad impact of circRNA on miRNA activity, there is huge interest in understanding the impact of miRNA sponging by circRNA on gene regulation. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the miRNA-circRNA interaction and mechanisms that influence gene expression.

Keywords: Competing endogenous RNA; Translation; circRNA; mRNA; miRNA; miRNA sponge.