中文摘要：

环状RNA（Circular RNAs,circRNAs）是一类新型的非编码RNA,其首尾通过共价键形成闭合的环,表现出与线性RNA不同的特性。circRNA大量存在于真核细胞转录组中,在物种间具有保守性,表达稳定且具有组织及发展阶段特异性。circRNA不易被核酸外切酶RNase R降解,在体液中较线性RNA更稳定,因而具有作为临床诊断及预后标志物的潜在应用价值。目前的研究发现环状RNA能够发挥miRNA分子海绵作用,调控基因转录过程。CircRNA在心血管系统疾病、神经系统疾病、朊蛋白疾病及癌症等疾病中发挥重要作用,有望成为RNA领域研究新的热点。

英文摘要：

Circular RNAs（circRNAs）are the new type of noncoding RNAs characterized by their circular shape resulting from covalently closed continuous loops and they showed different characteristic with linear RNAs.The majority of circRNAs is conserved across species and with stable expression,and often exhibit tissue and specificity in developmental stage.They are resistant to RNase R,and thus more stable than linear RNAs in fluid.They have significant potential in clinical diagnosis and prognosis biomarker of different diseases.Recent research has revealed that circRNAs can function as microRNA（miRNA）sponges,and modifiers of genetic transcription.Emerging evidence indicates that circRNAs might play important roles in disease of cardiovascular system,neurological disorders,prion diseases and cancer.CircRNA is becoming a new star in the research of RNAs.