Open AccessCircular RNA s: Methodological challenges and perspectives in cardiovascular diseases
Author(s) -
Carrara Matteo,
Fuschi Paola,
Ivan Cristina,
Martelli Fabio
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.13789
Subject(s) - circular rna , rna , limiting , rna splicing , computational biology , function (biology) , variety (cybernetics) , nucleic acid structure , biology , bioinformatics , computer science , genetics , gene , artificial intelligence , engineering , mechanical engineering
Circular RNA s are generated by back‐splicing of precursor‐ mRNA s. Although they have been known for many years, only recently we have started to appreciate their widespread expression and their regulatory functions in a variety of biological processes. Not surprisingly, circular RNA dysregulation and participation in the pathogenic mechanisms have started to emerge in many instances, including cardiovascular diseases. Detection, differential expression analysis and validation are the three critical points for the characterization of any RNA , and circular RNA s are no exception. Their characteristics, however, generate several problems that are yet to be completely addressed, and literature still lacks comprehensive definitions of well‐defined best practices. We present a map of the current knowledge regarding circular RNA s and the critical issues limiting our understanding of their regulation and function. The goal was to provide the readers with the tools to critically decide which of the many approaches available is most suitable to their experimental plan. Although particularly focused on cardiovascular diseases, most critical issues concerning circular RNA s are common to many other fields of investigation.