Circular RNAs arising from synaptic host genes are modulated by SFPQ RNA-binding protein and increased during human neuronal differentiation
Year: 2022
Type: preprint
Abstract: Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as a key component of the complex neural transcriptome implicated in brain development. However, the specific expression patterns and functions of circRNAs in human neuronal differentiation have not been explored. Results Using total RNA sequencing analysis, we identified expressed circRNAs during the differentiation of human neuroepithelial stem (NES) cells into developing neurons and discovered that many circRNAs originated from host genes associated with synaptic function. Interestingly, when assessing population data, exons giving rise to circRNAs in our dataset had a higher frequency of genetic variants. Additionally, screening for RNA-binding protein sites identified enrichment of Splicing Factor Proline and Glutamine Rich (SFPQ) motifs in increased circRNAs, several of which were reduced by SFPQ knockdown and enriched in SFPQ ribonucleoprotein complexes. Conclusions Our study provides an in-depth characterisation of circRNAs in a human neuronal differentiation model and highlights SFPQ as both a regulator and binding partner of circRNAs elevated during neuronal maturation.
Language: English
Topic: Circular RNAs in diseases
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Wenner-Gren Foundation, Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education, Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forskning, Hjärnfonden, Karolinska Institutet, Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, Vetenskapsrådet, Science for Life Laboratory, Sällskapet Barnavård, National Institutes of Health, Uppsala Multidisciplinary Center for Advanced Computational Science
OpenAlex ID: W4303475921