Circular RNA and precursor
RNA polynucleotides, along with related compositions and methods are described herein. In some embodiments, the
circular RNA comprises, in the following order, a 3' self-spliced
exon segment, an intervening region, and a 5' self-spliced
exon segment. In some embodiments, the precursor
RNA is a linear
RNA comprising a 5' combined accessory element comprising a 3' permuted
intron segment; an intervening region; and a 3' combined accessory element comprising a 5' permuted
intron segment. In some embodiments, the
circular RNA and / or precursor RNA polynucleotides comprise a
coding region comprising an expression sequence. In some embodiments, the precursor RNA
polynucleotide comprises a monotron. In some embodiments, the
circular RNA has improved expression,
functional stability,
immunogenicity, ease of manufacturing, and / or half-life when compared to linear RNA. In some embodiments, the methods and constructs result in improved circularization efficiency and / or splicing efficiency as compared to a control RNA
polynucleotide comprising a native intronic sequence. Also provided herein are precursor RNA polynucleotides, circular RNA polynucleotides, and
DNA polynucleotides, including polynucleotides comprising at least one modified A, C, G, or U
nucleotide or
nucleoside. Also presented herein are methods and compositions for the manufacture and preparation of circularized RNAs, along with methods of administering said circular RNAs and related compositions to a subject in need thereof for treatment or prevention purposes.