TUC338

TUC338
Identifiers
Symbol TUC338
Other data
RNA type Gene
Domain(s) Vertebrata
Locus Chr. 12 q

TUC338 (transcribed ultra-conserved region 338) is an ultra-conserved element which is transcribed to give a non-coding RNA.[1] The TUC338 gene was first identified as uc.338, along with 480 other ultra-conserved elements in the human genome.[2] Expression of this RNA gene has been found to dramatically increase in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.[3]

The TUC338 RNA gene is 590 base-pairs long, and partially overlaps the gene encoding Poly(rC)-binding protein 2 (PCBP2), a protein involved in mRNA processing.[4] Despite this overlap, PCBP2 and TUC388 were found to be independently expressed.[3]

TUC338 is predicted to function in cell growth, possibly at the interface between G1 phase and S phase, and could potentially present a therapeutic target to treat HCC cells.[3] Experimental evidence shows knocking out TUC338 using siRNA reduced the growth rate of both mouse and human HCC cells.[3]

References

  1. ^ Calin, GA; Liu, CG, Ferracin, M, Hyslop, T, Spizzo, R, Sevignani, C, Fabbri, M, Cimmino, A, Lee, EJ, Wojcik, SE, Shimizu, M, Tili, E, Rossi, S, Taccioli, C, Pichiorri, F, Liu, X, Zupo, S, Herlea, V, Gramantieri, L, Lanza, G, Alder, H, Rassenti, L, Volinia, S, Schmittgen, TD, Kipps, TJ, Negrini, M, Croce, CM (2007 Sep). "Ultraconserved regions encoding ncRNAs are altered in human leukemias and carcinomas.". Cancer cell 12 (3): 215–29. doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2007.07.027. PMID 17785203. 
  2. ^ Bejerano, G; Pheasant, M, Makunin, I, Stephen, S, Kent, WJ, Mattick, JS, Haussler, D (2004-05-28). "Ultraconserved elements in the human genome.". Science 304 (5675): 1321–5. doi:10.1126/science.1098119. PMID 15131266. 
  3. ^ a b c d Braconi, C; Valeri, N, Kogure, T, Gasparini, P, Huang, N, Nuovo, GJ, Terracciano, L, Croce, CM, Patel, T (2011-01-11). "Expression and functional role of a transcribed noncoding RNA with an ultraconserved element in hepatocellular carcinoma.". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108 (2): 786–91. doi:10.1073/pnas.1011098108. PMC 3021052. PMID 21187392. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=3021052. Retrieved 17 August 2011. 
  4. ^ Czyzyk-Krzeska, MF; Bendixen, AC (1999-03-15). "Identification of the poly(C) binding protein in the complex associated with the 3' untranslated region of erythropoietin messenger RNA.". Blood 93 (6): 2111–20. PMID 10068686. 

Further reading

  • Yam, JW; Wong, CM, Ng, IO (2010-01-01). "Molecular and functional genetics of hepatocellular carcinoma.". Frontiers in bioscience (Scholar edition) 2: 117–34. PMID 20036934.