Circbase

Definition

CircBase is a comprehensive online database that provides information on circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of non-coding RNAs that play crucial roles in various biological processes. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers by offering detailed annotations, including expression profiles, genomic locations, and potential functions of circRNAs across different species and conditions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. CircBase hosts extensive data on circRNAs from multiple organisms, including humans, mice, and plants, facilitating comparative studies.
2. The database includes information on the biogenesis of circRNAs, their interactions with proteins, and their involvement in diseases like cancer.
3. Users can access expression data derived from RNA-seq experiments, helping to identify differentially expressed circRNAs under various conditions.
4. CircBase provides a user-friendly interface for researchers to easily search for specific circRNAs using various filters like tissue type or disease state.
5. The platform is continually updated with new data, making it an essential tool for staying current on the latest discoveries related to circRNAs.

Review Questions

• How does CircBase facilitate research on circular RNAs and what types of data does it provide?
  • CircBase supports research on circular RNAs by offering a centralized platform where researchers can access comprehensive data related to these molecules. It provides annotations such as expression profiles, genomic locations, and potential biological functions. This wealth of information allows scientists to better understand the roles of circRNAs in gene regulation and their implications in diseases.
• Discuss the significance of circular RNAs in the context of non-coding RNA analysis and how CircBase contributes to this field.
  • Circular RNAs are significant in non-coding RNA analysis due to their unique structure and regulatory functions. They can act as sponges for miRNAs or interact with proteins, influencing various cellular processes. CircBase enhances this field by providing an extensive repository of data on circRNAs, allowing researchers to investigate their roles in different biological contexts and diseases, ultimately advancing our understanding of non-coding RNA functionalities.
• Evaluate the potential impact of circRNA research, as facilitated by CircBase, on understanding complex diseases and developing therapeutic strategies.
  • Research on circRNAs, supported by databases like CircBase, has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of complex diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. By elucidating the mechanisms through which circRNAs influence gene expression and cellular pathways, researchers can identify novel biomarkers for disease diagnosis and progression. Furthermore, this knowledge may lead to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies that harness circRNAs for treatment purposes, ultimately contributing to more effective healthcare solutions.

Related terms

Circular RNA: A type of RNA that forms a covalently closed continuous loop, which can regulate gene expression and has been implicated in various diseases.

Non-coding RNA: A category of RNA molecules that do not encode proteins but have important regulatory roles in gene expression and cellular processes.

RNA-seq: A high-throughput sequencing technique used to analyze the transcriptome, including the identification and quantification of circRNAs.