Family with sequence similarity 201 member A (FAM201A)

Family with sequence similarity 201 member A (FAM201A) is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcribed from a locus on chromosome 9p13.1. At approximately 2.9 kb in length, FAM201A does not produce a protein but functions as a regulatory RNA. It is implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation, invasion, radiosensitivity, and autophagy. FAM201A acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), sponging microRNAs and thereby modulating the expression of other genes, including RAC3 (associated with atrial fibrillation), ATM, and mTOR (associated with cancer radiosensitivity). Changes in FAM201A expression have been linked to disease risk or progression in a range of conditions, notably cancers (where it contributes to radioresistance and tumor growth) and atrial fibrillation (where reduced expression increases susceptibility). FAM201A is increasingly studied as a potential biomarker for these disease states, but is not a protein target for any current drug therapy.

Other names

FAM201AC9orf122Protein FAM201A (rarely, although it is a non-coding RNA)Family with sequence similarity 201 member A

Not applicable; no drugs are currently known to interact directly with FAM201A. Mechanistically, FAM201A acts as a ceRNA “sponge” for microRNAs, particularly miR-33a-3p (in AF) and miR-101 (in cancer/radiosensitivity), indirectly influencing downstream factors such as RAC3, ATM, and mTOR.