Catenin (cadherin-associated protein), alpha 1, 102kDa pseudogene (CTNNA1 pseudogene)

Catenin (cadherin-associated protein), alpha 1, 102kDa pseudogene (ENSG00000270422) is classified as a pseudogene related to the CTNNA1 locus[1][3]. Unlike the functional CTNNA1 gene, which encodes the alpha-catenin protein involved in cell adhesion, signal transduction, and tumor suppression[5], this pseudogene does not produce functional protein. Pseudogenes such as CTNNA1 pseudogene can have regulatory roles through non-coding RNAs that modulate their parental gene or other pathways, notably via competitive endogenous RNA effects[2][4]. Research suggests some CTNNA1 pseudogenes may participate in cancer-associated ceRNA networks and have possible biomarker characteristics; however, they are not considered direct therapeutic targets, and confusion with the protein-coding CTNNA1 gene should be explicitly avoided[4]. Technical challenges include difficulty in experimental discrimination between the pseudogene and functional gene due to sequence similarity, which can lead to off-target effects in gene silencing or editing studies[2][4]. If your intent is to research a molecular target for drug development or therapeutic intervention, you should refer to CTNNA1 (Catenin alpha-1, the protein-coding gene) rather than this pseudogene[1][3][5].

Other names

CTNNAP1Catenin alpha-1 pseudogeneCadherin-associated protein alpha 1 pseudogene