Recent advances in understanding circular RNAs

Exonic circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been discovered in all kingdoms of life. In many cases, the details of circRNA function and their involvement in cellular processes and diseases are not yet fully understood. However, the past few years have seen significant developments in bioinformatics and in experimental protocols that advance the ongoing research in this still-emerging field. Sophisticated methods for circRNA generation in vitro and in vivo have been developed, allowing model studies into circRNA function and application. We here review the ongoing circRNA research, giving special attention to recent progress in the field.