Journal article

Authors list: Schreiner, S; Didio, A; Hung, LH; Bindereif, A

Publication year: 2020

Pages: 12326-12335

Journal: Nucleic Acids Research

Volume number: 48

Issue number: 21

ISSN: 0305-1048

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaa1085

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract: 
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs. generated from pre-mRNAs by circular splicing of exons and functionally largely uncharacterized. Here we report on the design, expression, and characterization of artificial circRNAs that act as protein sponges, specifically binding and functionally inactivating hnRNP (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein) L. HnRNP L regulates alternative splicing, depending on short CA-rich RNA elements. We demonstrate that designer hnRNP L-sponge circRNAs with CA-repeat or CA-rich sequence clusters can efficiently and specifically modulate splicing-regulatory networks in mammalian cells, including alternative splicing patterns and the cellular distribution of a splicing factor. This new strategy can in principle be applied to any RNA-binding protein, opening up new therapeutic strategies in molecular medicine.

Harvard Citation style: Schreiner, S., Didio, A., Hung, L. and Bindereif, A. (2020) Design and application of circular RNAs with protein-sponge function, Nucleic Acids Research, 48(21), pp. 12326-12335. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaa1085

APA Citation style: Schreiner, S., Didio, A., Hung, L., & Bindereif, A. (2020). Design and application of circular RNAs with protein-sponge function. Nucleic Acids Research. 48(21), 12326-12335. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaa1085