Fig. 2: Diagram summarizing mechanisms of actions and functions of circRNAs. | Molecular Psychiatry

Fig. 2: Diagram summarizing mechanisms of actions and functions of circRNAs.

From: Circular RNAs in neurological conditions – computational identification, functional validation, and potential clinical applications

Fig. 2

(A) One of the most extensively studied functions of circRNAs is miRNA sponging, where circRNAs bind to complementary miRNA binding sites, sequestering miRNAs and reducing their inhibitory effect on target mRNAs. (B) CircRNAs can encode functional peptides through m7G cap-independent translation mechanisms, facilitated by internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) or N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications. (C) CircRNAs regulate transcription by interacting with transcriptional factors or spliceosome components. (D) Many circRNAs contain binding sites for RNA binding proteins (RBPs), regulating the localization, stability, or activity of these proteins. (E) CircRNAs can act as scaffolds in protein-protein interactions, binding to multiple proteins simultaneously to facilitate their functional interplay. (F) CircRNAs are often co-transcriptionally produced with mRNAs from the same host gene, competing with linear transcripts for splicing events, thereby interfering with the expression of their cognate mRNAs.

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