Circular RNAs trigger nonsense-mediated mRNA decay

Covalently closed single-stranded RNAs made through a back-splicing process are called circular RNAs (circRNAs). Although they play key role in various physiological functions, the mechanisms of action are not clearly understood. 

The researchers uncover that through circRNA-mRNA interaction, the exon-junction complexes (EJCs) deposited onto circRNAs after backsplicing and is spatially located near the 30 UTR of mRNA.

The EJC on circRNA triggers nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) of the mRNA, a process described as circRNA-induced NMD (circNMD). .

Mechanistic studies reveal the roles of circNMD in apoptosis and its therapeutic potential for mRNA downregulation.

https://www.cell.com/molecular-cell/fulltext/S1097-2765(24)00947-X

https://sciencemission.com/Circular-RNAs-trigger-nonsense-mediated-mRNA-decay