环状RNA在心血管系统中的表达与功能

Expression and function of circular RNAs in the cardiovascular system

环状RNA(circular RNAs,circRNAs)是一类首尾通过共价键衔接构成封闭环状的单链RNA分子。与线性的RNA分子不同,它没有5′端帽子和3′端poly(A)尾巴,传统的RNA检测手段不易识别。高通量测序技术的应用及日益成熟使得人们逐渐认识到circRNAs在哺乳动物各组织大量、稳定存在,并在多种疾病的发生发展过程中起着重要的作用。本文就circRNAs的生物合成、功能和其在心血管疾病发生发展中的作用及机制进行综述。

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed,single-stranded RNA molecules produced by back-splicing from precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA).Unlike linear RNA molecules,circRNAs lack 5′ end caps and 3′ end poly (A) tails and are difficult to be detected by conventional methods of RNA analysis.Now,high-throughput sequencing has revealed the stable existence of abundant circRNAs in a variety of mammalian tissues,and it plays important roles in numerous diseases.Herein,we review the biogenesis and functions of circRNAs,with particular focus on their roles in cardiovascular diseases.