Fig. 1
From: Targeting circular RNAs as a therapeutic approach: current strategies and challenges
Biogenesis and functional mechanisms of circular RNAs (circRNAs). A Back-splicing driven by the pairing of intronic complementary sequences, RNA-binding protein (RBP), or lariat structure containing skipped exons or introns. B Sponging microRNA (miRNA) to decrease their availability to bind target mRNA. C Sponging RNA-binding protein (RBP) to decrease their availability to bind target mRNA. D Interacting with eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 G (eIF4G), poly(A)-binding protein (PABP), and cognate mRNA to disrupt the assembly of the translation initiation machinery. E Translocating proteins to the nucleus or sequestering them in the cytosol. F Facilitating interactions between specific proteins. G Translating to protein in a cap-independent manner. H Exon-intron circRNAs (EIcircRNAs) can form a complex with the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) that binds RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) to enhance transcription of parental genes. Intronic circRNAs (ciRNAs) can interact with elongating RNA pol II complex to enhance transcription
