| Sumario: | Migration of keratinocytes plays a crucial role in the re‐epithelialization phase during wound healing. Circular RNA (circRNA) protein kinase, DNA‐activated, catalytic subunit (circ_PRKDC, hsa_circ_0084443) has been identified as a regulator of keratinocyte migration. However, the molecular basis governing it remains unclear. The levels of circ_PRKDC, microRNA (miR)‐20a‐3p, and RAS p21 protein activator 1 (RASA1) were assessed by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) or western blot. Subcellular localization, Actinomycin D, and Ribonuclease (RNase) R assays were performed to characterise circ_PRKDC. Cell migration was gauged by transwell and wound‐healing assays. A direct relationship between miR‐20a‐3p and circ_PRKDC or RASA1 was verified by dual‐luciferase reporter and RNA pull‐down assays. Circ_PRKDC expression was reduced in wound skin during wound healing. Circ_PRKDC modulated migration of HaCaT keratinocytes. Mechanistically, circ_PRKDC directly targeted miR‐20a‐3p. The regulation of circ_PRKDC on HaCaT keratinocyte migration was mediated by miR‐20a‐3p. RASA1 was identified as a direct and functional target of miR‐20a‐3p, and miR‐20a‐3p‐mediated inhibition of RASA1 impacted HaCaT keratinocyte migration. Circ_PRKDC acted as a post‐transcriptional modulator of RASA1 expression through miR‐20a‐3p. Moreover, circ_PRKDC modulated migration of HaCaT keratinocytes by RASA1. Our findings demonstrated a novel molecular basis, the miR‐20a‐3p/RASA1 axis, for the regulation of circ_PRKDC on HaCaT keratinocyte migration.
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