title: Circular RNAs: Identification, biogenesis and function.
abstract: Circular RNAs are a novel class of non-coding RNA characterized by the presence of a covalent bond linking the 3' and 5' ends generated by backsplicing. Circular RNAs are widely expressed in a tissue and developmental-stage specific pattern and a subset displays conservation across species. Functional circRNAs have been shown to act as cytoplasmic microRNA sponges and RNA-binding protein sequestering agents as well as nuclear transcriptional regulators, illustrating the relevance of circular RNAs as participants in the regulatory networks governing gene expression. Here, we review the features that characterize circular RNAs, discuss putative circular RNA biogenesis pathways as well as review the uncovered functions of circular RNAs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Clues to long noncoding RNA taxonomy1, edited by Dr. Tetsuro Hirose and Dr. Shinichi Nakagawa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Karoline K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ebbesen
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kjems
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG), Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. Electronic address: tbh@mbg.au.dk.
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D000079962:RNA, Circular; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000079962:RNA, Circular; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012313:RNA
keywords: Circular RNA; circRNA