关键词: circRNAs, 形成机制, 调控功能, 水产生物

Abstract: Circluar RNAs (circRNAs) are a kind of newly RNA molecules and different from other linear mRNAs generated by the reverse splicing of a covalent bond linking 3′ and 5′ ends to form a closed loop structure. CircRNAs are widely existed in a variety of organisms and exerts their multiple biological functions, which might be widely involved in the processes of life. They are characterized by stable structure, resistant to degradation by RNA exonuclease, abundant expression, high conservation, high specificity in cell and tissue at different stages of development and playing an important role in the regulation of gene expression and various disease processes. With the improvement of new generation sequencing technology and the rapid development of bioinformatics, ten thousands of circRNAs have been discovered ant their functional studies have also become a research hotspot. Currently, it remains still unclear and limited literatures are available in aquaculture. This article aimed to review the biological characteristics, biogenesis, biological functions of circRNAs and recent circRNAs research advances in aquaculture, which might be helpful in researching the mechanism of circRNAs on economic traits of aquatic organisms and laid a foundation for genetic modification and variety breeding.