Research Techniques Made Simple: Studying Circular RNA in Skin Diseases

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a unique class of covalently closed, single-stranded RNAs. High-throughput sequencing has uncovered the abundance and complexity of circRNAs. Changes in levels of circRNAs correlate with diverse disease states, including many skin diseases. CircRNAs can function as microRNA inhibitors, protein interactors, or mRNAs. Although circRNAs do have unique topological features, they share many similarities, including primary sequence, with their linear orthologs, so carefully controlled experiments are required to detect and study them. Here, we summarize some protocols used in the identification, validation, and characterization of circRNAs. We also discuss ways to repress and overexpress specific circRNAs to assess potential unique functions for these molecules. These techniques may be useful in exploring how circRNAs contribute to skin disease.