New bioinformatics tool to study circular RNAs: EasyCircR
Institute of Oncology Research
A team of IOR researchers, in collaboration with the University of Verona (Italy), has developed EasyCircR, a new bioinformatics software designed to analyze circular RNAs(circRNAs), molecules increasingly recognized for their key role in gene regulation and diseases such as cancer.
A new study from the IOR Bioinformatics Unit, published in Computers in Biology and Medicine, has highlighted the role of circular RNAs in post-transcriptional regulation and their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Led by Luciano Cascione, the research developed EasyCircR, an innovative tool for analyzing circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction networks, providing new insights into regulatory mechanisms and paving the way for future clinical applications.
Circular RNAs are RNA fragments that, unlike linear RNAs, form closed-loop structures and influence gene expression through complex mechanisms. These molecules have been identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various diseases.
EasyCircR provides an innovative approach, combining circular RNA identification with the analysis of their impact on microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs). With an intuitive R/Shiny-based interface, users can easily explore and visualize these biological interactions.
The tool, developed in collaboration with the University of Verona (Italy), was tested on data from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and triple-negative breast cancer, revealing novel post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that could have significant implications for cancer research.
The EasyCircR software is available as an open-source R package and can be freely downloaded from GitHub: https://github.com/InfOmics/EasyCircR.
This innovation represents a step forward in the study of non-coding RNAs and their potential role as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various diseases.
