{
  "id": 10726943,
  "title": "SON-mediated circular RNA suppression promotes PKR signaling and radiation resistance in glioblastoma",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/son-mediated-circular-rna-suppression-promotes-pkr-signaling-and",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.755153v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Glioblastoma (GBM) shows a significant reduction in circular RNAs (circRNAs), but the underlying mechanisms and their implications are not well understood. Researchers have now discovered that the splicing co-factor SON serves as a suppressor of circRNA biogenesis in GBM. When SON activity is diminished, there is a noticeable rise in circRNA levels. Conversely, higher SON expression in GBM, especially in radiation-resistant models, is linked to decreased circRNA abundance, particularly for circUSP1 and circSUCO. When SON levels are reduced, there is an increase in circRNA abundance and a decrease in the activation of dsRNA-responsive kinase PKR and downstream NF-κB signaling. Notably, radiation-resistant GBM cells display enhanced PKR/NF-κB activation, which is suppressed by SON depletion. Importantly, the overexpression of circUSP1 and circSUCO, which are typically suppressed by SON, reduces PKR activation and significantly decreases the survival of radiation-resistant GBM cells in clonogenic assays, without affecting the non-resistant cells. These findings unveil a previously unidentified SON/circRNA/PKR regulatory pathway that connects RNA processing to acquired radiation resistance in GBM. This research also highlights specific PKR-inhibitory circRNAs as potential therapeutic targets to sensitize radiation-resistant GBM to radiotherapy.",
  "summary": "Glioblastoma (GBM) exhibits extensive loss of circular RNAs (circRNAs), yet the mechanisms driving this depletion and its functional consequences remain unclear. Here, we identify the splicing co-factor SON as a previously unrecognized suppressor of circRNA biogenesis in GBM. CircRNA sequencing revealed widespread increases in circRNA abundance following SON knockdown. Conversely, elevated SON…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}