BAALC antisense RNA 2 (BAALC-AS2)

BAALC antisense RNA 2 (BAALC-AS2) is a long non-coding RNA gene located on chromosome 8, also known by aliases such as BAALCOS and C8orf56. It is expressed in multiple tissues, including brain, heart, and liver, and is involved in the regulation of gene expression, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Functionally, BAALC-AS2 can act as a sponge for microRNAs, preventing them from binding to their target mRNAs, thereby changing the expression of genes critical for cellular processes. Recent research links BAALC-AS2 to the promotion of cancer cell proliferation and migration, especially by enhancing c-Myc expression through a feedback loop with G3BP2, implicating it as a regulator in tumor progression, especially in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, it is not a classical drug target, and as of now, there are no approved drugs directly targeting it. Elevated BAALC-AS2 expression may be a candidate diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for certain cancers.

Other names

BAALCOSC8orf56MGC39526BAALC antisense gene protein 2BAALC opposite strand proteinPutative uncharacterized protein BAALC-AS2

BAALC-AS2 acts as a microRNA sponge, disrupting microRNA-target interactions and regulating target gene expression, such as oncogenic pathways involving c-Myc and G3BP2.