Identification of a novel circularized transcript of the AML1 gene

Abstract

The AML1 gene is an essential transcription factor regulatingthe differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into matureblood cells. Though at least 12 different alternatively splicedAML1 mRNAs are generated, three splice variants (AML1a,AML1b and AML1c) have been characterized. Here, using thereverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with outwardfacingprimers, we identified a novel non-polyadenylatedtranscript from the AML1 gene, with exons 5 and 6 scrambled.The novel transcript resisted RNase R digestion, indicating it isa circular RNA structure that may originate from products ofmRNA alternative splicing. The expression of the noveltranscript in different cells or cell lines of human and anumber of other species matched those of the canonicaltranscripts. The discovery provides additional evidence thatcircular RNA could stably exist in vivo in human, and mayalso help to understand the mechanism of the regulation of theAML1 gene transcription. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(3): 163-168]

Keywords

• Alternative splicing
• Circular RNA
• Non-coding RNA
• RNase R
• The AML1 gene