Circular RNA expression profile in mitochondria fractions of liver tumour-initiating cells

Tumour-initiating cells (TICs), also termed as cancer stem cells, contribute to tumour initiation, metastasis, progression and drug resistance. Metabolic reprogramming is a cancer hallmark and plays vital roles in liver tumorigenesis. However, the role of metabolic reprogramming in TICs remains poorly explored.Here we isolated mitochondria from liver TICs and non-TICs, and detected the expression levels of mitochondrial encoded circRNAs in TICs and non-TICs. Liver TICs were enriched from oncospheres. Liver TICs and non-TICs were used for mitochondria isolation, and mitochondrial encoded circRNAs (mecirc) were identified through circRNA sequencing.