Figure 4.

Chromosomal translocations can lead to aberrant circular RNA expression. Rearrangements between nonhomologous regions can result in the joining of 2 previously separate genes (colored orange and blue). Regulatory sequences, such as intronic Alu repeats (red arrows), that flank the translocation breakpoint become juxtaposed when the fusion gene is transcribed. This can lead to the formation of aberrant circular RNAs when complementary repeat sequences base pair to one another. Recent work has demonstrated that these fusion circular RNAs then act with the fusion mRNA/protein to drive cancer development.⁷⁸.