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Circular RNA Biomarker Development Programs
Our circular RNA biomarker programs are meeting a crucial market demand for evidence-based psychiatric and neurological healthcare.
Circular RNA Biomarkers
At Circular Genomics, our approach stands apart from the rest. We specialize in developing tests utilizing circular RNA biomarkers, renowned for their superior stability. Unlike static DNA pharmacogenomic testing, circular RNA reflects an individual's evolving biological status in real time, making them an invaluable tool for precision psychiatry.
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Our tests are poised to revolutionize the standard of care, providing invaluable insights for diagnosing, monitoring and treating psychiatric and neurological conditions.
What is Circular RNA?
Circular RNAs represent a distinct type of non-coding RNA produced within the nucleus via precursor mRNA backsplicing. These molecules are plentiful in the cell's cytoplasm, conserved across various species, and exhibit notable stability compared to their linear counterparts.
How do Circular RNA Function?
Circular RNAs possess distinctive qualities that enable them to regulate gene expression via various mechanisms, including functioning as microRNA sponges or RNA-binding protein scaffolds, influencing alternative splicing, or interacting with the transcriptional machinery within cells.
Why Does it Matter?
Circular RNAs have been implicated in a range of human illnesses, spanning from cancer to psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders such as major depression and Alzheimer's disease, often due to their abnormal expression in various pathological states. The dynamic nature of circular RNAs positions them as promising candidates for diagnostic or predictive biomarkers across a spectrum of diseases.
The Role of Circular RNA in Neurobiology
Circular RNAs are pivotal in human neurobiological processes. Abundantly found in neural tissue and synapses, they are closely linked to neuronal development, cognitive function, and aging. Dysregulation of circular RNAs is implicated in the pathogenesis of various brain-related diseases, spanning developmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder, psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, as well as aging-related diseases like Alzheimer's disease.
Related Publications
A bidirectional competitive interaction between circHomer1 and Homer1b within the orbitofrontal cortex regulates reversal learning
January 18, 2022
Although circular RNAs (circRNAs) are enriched in the brain, their relevance for brain function and psychiatric disorders is poorly understood. Here, we show that circHomer1 is inversely associated with relative HOMER1B mRNA isoform levels in both the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and stem-cell-derived neuronal cultures of subjects with psychiatric disorders…
A psychiatric disease-related circular RNA controls synaptic gene expression and cognition
January 27, 2020
Although circular RNAs (circRNAs) are enriched in the mammalian brain, very little is known about their potential involvement in brain function and psychiatric disease. Here, we show that circHomer1a, a neuronal-enriched circRNA abundantly expressed in the frontal cortex, derived from Homer protein homolog 1 (HOMER1), is significantly reduced in…