Nuclear export of circular RNA. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38355801/)

These scientists wanted to understand how circular RNAs (circRNAs) move from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in our cells. They found that a specific pathway is responsible for this movement. This pathway involves three important components: Ran-GTP, exportin-2, and IGF2BP1.

To study this pathway, the scientists manipulated the levels of Ran-GTP in the nucleus. They found that increasing Ran-GTP levels helped circRNAs move out of the nucleus, while decreasing Ran-GTP levels blocked circRNA export. They also discovered that exportin-2 is essential for the export of circRNAs from the nucleus.

Furthermore, the scientists identified that a protein called IGF2BP1 plays a crucial role in binding to circRNAs and recruiting Ran-GTP and exportin-2 to help circRNAs exit the nucleus. This mechanism is similar to how proteins are exported from the nucleus.

Overall, the scientists showed that circRNAs have a specific pathway for their export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and this process involves interactions between Ran-GTP, exportin-2, and IGF2BP1.

Ngo LH., Bert AG., Dredge BK., Williams T., Murphy V., Li W., Hamilton WB., Carey KT., Toubia J., Pillman KA., Liu D., Desogus J., Chao JA., Deans AJ., Goodall GJ., Wickramasinghe VO. Nuclear export of circular RNA. Nature. 2024 Feb 14. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07060-5.