Conserved regulation of ZC3H14/Nab2 in circRNA biogenesis

ABSTRACT: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are natural outputs of eukaryotic transcription and RNA processing and have emerged as critical regulators in physiology and human diseases. Although a series of cis-elements and trans-factors are reported to globally regulate circRNA biogenesis, most of these regulations are unconserved or at most mammalian conserved. Here, using a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen, we have identified an evolutionarily conserved polyadenosine RNA-binding protein ZC3H14 to regulate circRNA biogenesis in eukaryotes. Mechanistically, ZC3H14 associates with spliceosome to bind to 3' and 5' exon-intron boundaries of circularized exons, and forms a dimer to promote circRNA biogenesis. ZC3H14 knockout mice exhibit disrupted spermatogenesis and reduced testicular circRNA levels. Additionally, human ZC3H14 is associated with male infertility. Our findings reveal a conserved requirement for ZC3H14/Nab2 in the modulation of eukaryotic backsplicing and link ZC3H14 along with circRNAs to mammalian testicular disorders.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus Schizosaccharomyces pombe Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE254916 | GEO | 2024/02/10

REPOSITORIES: GEO