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Hereditas(Beijing) ›› 2026, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (3): 244-261.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.25-153

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Advances in translatable circular RNAs

Guangfu Zou1(), Min Zhou1,2(), Chuan Huang1()   

  1. 1. School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
    2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children), Chongqing 401147, China
  • Received:2025-07-12 Revised:2025-09-02 Online:2026-03-20 Published:2025-10-11
  • Contact: Min Zhou, Chuan Huang E-mail:202226021024@stu.cqu.edu.cn;min_zhou@cqu.edu.cn;chuanhuang@cqu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(32270601);National Natural Science Foundation of China(32070633);National Natural Science Foundation of China(32570667);Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China(Q2024230);Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(CSTB2025NSCQ-JQX0023);Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(CSTB2024NSCQ-MSX0710);Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(cstc2022ycjh-bgzxm0140);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2024IAIS-QN006);Outstanding Young Medical Talents Program of Chongqing(YXQN2025071)

Abstract:

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of stable single-stranded RNA molecules with diverse biological functions in eukaryotic cells. Beyond acting as direct regulatory factors, circRNAs can also indirectly participate in various physiological and pathological processes through their encoded functional proteins. The molecular mechanisms and research strategies of circRNA translation, the association between circRNA-encoded proteins and major human diseases, as well as the application of circRNAs as expression vectors for therapeutic proteins, have become cutting-edge focuses in the biomedical field. Focusing on the three above-mentioned aspects in this review, we summarize the current progress of translatable circRNA studies, aiming to provide comprehensive insights and perspectives into the field of circRNA translation.

Key words: circRNA, translation regulation, internal ribosomal entry sites, m6A, RNA binding protein