# Uncovering the links between circRNA accumulation, translation and aging

> **NIH NIH R01** · BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $666,788

## Abstract

Project Summary
As advances in clinical and medical sciences lengthen lifespan in developed countries, it
is becoming increasingly clear that aging is one of the most important risk factors for
disease. The prevalence of diseases including cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer
and dementia increases dramatically in the later years of life. Interventions that prevent
or postpone the effects of aging have the potential to transform modern medicine.
Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying aging is an important
goal.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly abundant RNAs produced by circularization of
specific exons. Two of these RNAs, CDR1as and Sry, can act as miRNA sponges, but
no function is known for the thousands of other circRNAs found in species across the
animal kingdom. CircRNAs expression levels are not correlated with the expression of
their linear isoforms, indicating a potentially widespread layer of previously unknown
gene regulation. Recent work from others and us showed that circRNAs are enriched in
neural tissue and accumulate with age in the brain. Moreover, unpublished work from
our lab demonstrate that a subset of circRNAs produces protein and that their translation
is regulated by starvation and FOXO, pathways strongly related to aging
This proposal aims to unravel the interplay between aging, circRNAs translation and
function. For doing so, we will utilize state of the art methodologies to: Determine the
cellular substrate, temporal requirements and aging pathways involved in the life span
extension provoked by downregulation of circSif, circCG31619 and circCG11319.
Molecularly characterize the aging related roles of circSif, circGC31619 and
circCG11319. Determine the connection between translation of circRNAs and the aging
phenotypes. Determine of the connection between circRNA accumulation and function
and aging globally.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10401774
- **Project number:** 5R01AG057700-05
- **Recipient organization:** BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sebastian Kadener
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $666,788
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-15 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10401774

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10401774, Uncovering the links between circRNA accumulation, translation and aging (5R01AG057700-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10401774. Licensed CC0.

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