{
  "abstract": "Introns occupy nearly one-third of the human genome, yet whether they encode widespread regulatory functions remains unclear. Here, we identify a vast new class of intron-derived Kink-loop RNAs (klRNAs) that autoregulate host pre-mRNA splicing. We developed orthogonal sequencing methods to systematically uncover approximately 15,200 and 3,500 previously unannotated klRNAs in humans and mice, respectively. Bound by the conserved RNA-binding protein 15.5K, klRNAs are compact orphan RNAs characterized by stereotypically positioned terminal C/D motifs that form K-loop structures. Depletion of 15.5K broadly disrupts klRNA biogenesis. Functional and genetic perturbations establish that klRNAs suppress host intron excision through a K-loop-dependent mechanism. Together, our findings establish klRNA-mediated autoregulation as a widespread principle governing intron fate and reveal a previously unrecognized regulatory layer encoded within mammalian introns.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes,"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "B. Li"
    },
    {
      "name": "Q. Lin"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. Gan"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "W. Zheng"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Liang"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. Wan"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Qu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "J. Yang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7cexm0nf6w4r4.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.08.03.742641",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.03.742641v2.full",
  "id": "7cexm0nf6w4r4",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.03.742641v2",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "molecular biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|RNA Research and Splicing"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7172423954",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.03.742641v2.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-03",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7cexm0nf6w4r4.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:23:28Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.08.03.742641",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.03.742641v2"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "biorxiv:molecular biology",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Introns encode a vast new class of Kink-loop RNAs that autoregulate pre-mRNA splicing",
  "title_text": "Introns encode a vast new class of Kink-loop RNAs that autoregulate pre-mRNA splicing",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:23:28Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7cexm0nf6w4r4",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}