Circular RNAs: Generation of Small RNAs with Unique Properties by Splicing Permuted Intron-Exon Sequences

Abstract

Methods that utilize RNA splicing reactions to circularize RNA in vitro and in cells are being developed. These methods should facilitate in vitro biochemical and biophysical studies using circularized RNA and could eventually allow the expression of desired RNA sequence as circles in vivo. Circularized RNAs have proven useful for innovative in vitro studies on RNA structure and function (Pan and Uhlenbeck 1992a; Wang and Kool 1994). In addition to their value in biochemical studies, there is potential for the application of circular RNAs in the modulation of gene expression and in the developing area of nucleic acid-based therapeutics (Rossi et al. 1991; Ma et al. 1993; Wang and Kool 1994). However, with a few exceptions, naturally occurring examples of circular RNAs are rare, and little is known about their generation or fate in vivo.KeywordsHuman Immunodeficiency Virus TypeHepatitis Delta VirusHammerhead RibozymeSpliceosomal IntronCircular RNAsThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.