The role of circle RNAs (circRNAs) in male fertility

CircRNAs as a subclass of ncRNAs have appeared as a novel RNA of interest in gene regulation. It is estimated that 15996 circRNAs are transcribed in human testis. It is found that these circRNAs have an important role in sperm production. Since SRY gene in adult was transcribed as a circle form (circSry), suggested that circRNAs has special function in sperm production. CircSry is expressed only in testis, suggested that it has a function as miRs sponge. This article was performed by searching on electronic databases including: PMC and nature. With using high-throughput sequencing, it is predicted that about 100000 circRNAs exist in humans that 15996 of them are expressed in testis and 14033 circRNAs are related to 5928 host genes. 70.6%, 13.0% and 9.8% of the expressed circRNAs in testis were derived from exonic, intergenic and intronic regions, respectively. Although there are a large number of circRNAs in the testis, but studies about them have just begun. These circRNAs may have important role in post-transcriptional regulation of spermatogenesis. Therefore, it is proposed that the circRNAs in testis may be used as novel biomarkers for male fertility.

Keywords:

Circle RNAs , Male fertility