Bio-genesis and deregulation of circular ribonucleic acid and their role in human cancer

Abstract

RiboNucleic Acid (RNA) occupies the center position in the central dogma of molecular biology. These are the nucleotide with a ribose sugar and are found either in linear or circular form. The linear RNAs are of different types and include ribosomal RNA (rRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (t-RNA), small nuclear (snRNA) RNA, and very small/micro RNA (microRNAs). The circular (circRNA) RNA is a group of noncoding RNA, stable molecules, established recently and linked with the regulation of different genes, RNAs including microRNAs. The current understanding of these molecules suggests that these circRNAs are fairly conserved and show tissue-specific expression patterns. These molecules are connected with different pathogenic conditions and associated with verities of diseases, including cancer. CircRNAs are thus contributing to tumorigenesis, and these molecules show the potential to become future predictive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and even can be targeted in personalized therapy. Hence, these bio-molecules will get exposed frequently, and their new cellular role will emerge, soon. This review outlines the current trend, limitations, and future potential of circRNA in cancer research.