Circular RNAs as central regulators of RNA stability.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly stable, covalently closed RNAs that actively regulate the stability of other RNA molecules, including mRNAs and microRNAs.

• Why it matters: Understanding circRNA stability and their regulatory roles is crucial because they influence gene expression and RNA turnover, filling a gap in knowledge about RNA regulation mechanisms.
• What they did: The review synthesizes current insights into the molecular features that determine circRNA stability and highlights recent advances in how circRNAs interact with and modulate the stability of other RNAs through diverse mechanisms.
• The result: This integrated perspective advances our comprehension of circRNA-centered regulation of RNA stability, opening avenues for potential therapeutic and biotechnological applications.