Identifying protein interactors of circACVR2A(2-4) in human cells

ABSTRACT: Differentiation of stem cells is driven by tightly coordinated transcriptional programs, yet the contribution of circular RNAs (circRNAs) to lineage specification remains poorly defined. We identified that depletion of circACVR2A(2–4), but not its linear counterpart, rapidly induced neuroectodermal specification of human embryonic stem cells at both phenotypic and transcriptional levels. This project identified protein interactors for circACVR2A(2–4) as an insight into the mechanism of action. CircACVR2A(2-4) was found to interact with cyclin H within the CDK-activating kinase (CAK) complex to modulate RNA polymerase II phosphorylation independently of CDK activation. These findings identify a circRNA-mediated mechanism that uncouples CAK complex activity to regulate neural differentiation and establish circRNAs as key modulators of stem cell fate.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

SUBMITTER: Alex Colella  

LAB HEAD: Simon James Conn

PROVIDER: PXD080807 | Pride | 2026-10-15

REPOSITORIES: Pride