Circular RNAs in Cardiovascular Disease: An Overview

Figure 3

Model of circRNA regulating the expression of a parental gene: (a) CiRNAs come from lariat introns that escape debranching. CiRNA can bind to RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) and function in the promoter region of genes. (b) EIciRNA can interact with the U1 snRNP (small nuclear ribonucleoprotein) via specific RNA-RNA interaction between U1 snRNP and EIciRNA to form EIciRNA-U1 snRNP complexes, and the complexes will recruit RNA pol II to the promoter to stimulate host gene expression.

(a)

(b)