Circular RNAs are the predominant transcript isoform from hundreds of human genes in diverse cell types.
Most human pre-mRNAs are spliced into linear molecules that retain the exon order defined by the genomic sequence. By deep sequencing of RNA from a variety of normal and malignant human cells, we found RNA transcripts from many human genes in which the exons were arranged in a non-canonical order. Statistical estimates and biochemical assays provided strong evidence that a substantial fraction of the spliced transcripts from hundreds of genes are circular RNAs. Our results suggest that a non-canonical mode of RNA splicing, resulting in a circular RNA isoform, is a general feature of the gene expression program in human cells.
Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Julia
J
Salzman
Charles
C
Gawad
Peter Lincoln
PL
Wang
Norman
N
Lacayo
Patrick O
PO
Brown
D001483:Base Sequence; D005091:Exons; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012326:RNA Splicing; D000079962:RNA, Circular
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012322:RNA Precursors; D000079962:RNA, Circular; D012313:RNA