The Output of Protein-Coding Genes Shifts to Circular RNAs When the Pre-mRNA Processing Machinery Is Limiting (Molecular Cell)

Many protein-coding genes produce linear mRNAs and circular RNAs. Liang et al. find that circular RNAs become the preferred gene output when core spliceosome or transcription termination factors are depleted from cells. This is in part because nascent RNAs are directed into alternative pathways that lead to circular RNA biogenesis.