riboCIRC v2.0: an expanded resource for translatable CircRNAs.

Abstract

riboCIRC (http://www.ribocirc.com) is a translatome data-oriented database dedicated to cataloging translatable circRNAs and their encoded peptides across six model species, including Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and Danio rerio. Here, we present riboCIRC v2.0, a major update featuring expanded content and enhanced functionality to facilitate and accelerate research into circRNA translation and function characterization. Key improvements include (i) expanded data coverage: now documenting 5212 computationally predicted translatable circRNAs and 7563 predicted finite ORF-encoded peptides, representing a substantial increase from the initial release (2247 and 2234 entries, respectively); (ii) enhanced evidence integration: incorporation of new evidence layers supporting translation of circRNAs, including RNA editing sites and RBP interactions, supplementing existing evidence from ribosome profiling, mass spectrometry, IRES elements, and m6A modifications; (iii) comprehensive peptide annotation: systematic in silico characterization of finite ORF-encoded peptides, detailing their physicochemical properties, predicted structures, and potential functions; and (iv) optimized user interface: improved navigation and dedicated modules for streamlined data exploration, retrieval, and visualization. Collectively, these enhancements establish riboCIRC v2.0 as a more powerful resource for investigating the functional roles of translatable circRNAs and their products across diverse biological systems.