AUTHOR=Deng Jingui , Wang Qing , Zhang Jing , Ma Yanping , Qi Ying , Liu Zhongyang , Li Yibo , Ruan Qiang , Huang Yujing 

TITLE=Identification and characterization of human cytomegalovirus-encoded circular RNAs

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.980974

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2022.980974

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=Circular RNA (circRNA) exists extensively and plays essential roles in serving as microRNA (miRNA) or protein sponges and protein scaffolding in many organisms. However, the profiles and potential functions of the virus-encoded circRNA, including human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded circular RNAs, remain unclear. In the present study, the HCMV-encoded circRNAs profile in HCMV-infected human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF) was investigated using RNA deep sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. Highly expressed HCMV-encoded circRNAs were validated by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing. Subsequently, the target miRNAs of the validated circRNAs were predicted and analyzed. In total, 629 HCMV-encoded circRNAs were identified in our study. The sequence of selected HCMV-encoded circRNAs (circUS12, circUL55, and circUL89) is proved to be consistent with RNA-seq. The HCMV-encoded circRNA-miRNA network analyses revealed the potential function of HCMV-encoded circRNAs during HCMV infection in HELFs. Collectively, HCMV infection deduced abundant HCMV-associated circRNAs during infection, and the HCMV-encoded circRNAs might play important roles in benefiting HCMV infection.