CircPrimer: a software for annotating circRNAs and determining the specificity of circRNA primers

Abstract

Abstract Background Since circular RNAs (circRNAs) post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression, they have attracted increasing attention. However, there is no existing tool to annotate and extract spliced sequences for circRNAs and no tool to determine the specificity of circRNA primers. Results In this study, we present circPrimer, which allows users to search, annotate, and visualize circRNAs. Additionally, circPrimer enables users to extract the spliced sequences and genomic sequences of any circRNA, including novel circRNAs. Furthermore, circPrimer help users to design primers for circRNAs and to determine the specificity of the circRNA primers. Conclusions CircPrimer is a user-friendly tool for exploring circRNAs that does not require special user skills.

Keywords

• Circular RNAs
• Divergent primer
• Sequence