Fer-1 like family member 4, pseudogene (functional) (FER1L4)

Fer-1 like family member 4, abbreviated as FER1L4, is a functional pseudogene that produces a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). Although originally annotated as a pseudogene, FER1L4 is transcribed and participates in regulatory networks via its RNA transcript. In multiple cancers, including melanoma and gastric cancer, FER1L4 acts as a tumor suppressor at the RNA level. A central mechanism involves FER1L4 functioning as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), regulating the availability of microRNAs such as miR-106a-5p, and thereby modulating the expression of the tumor suppressor PTEN. In melanoma, FER1L4 expression levels are associated with disease stage, BRAF mutation status, and patient survival; higher FER1L4 levels correlate with improved prognosis. FER1L4 interacts with multiple microRNAs beyond miR-106a-5p and may participate in the regulation of immune response and inflammatory signaling pathways through indirect gene regulatory effects. There are no current drugs known to target FER1L4 directly; rather, its relevance lies in its potential as a prognostic or predictive biomarker. FER1L4 is not a conventional therapeutic target (e.g., receptor or enzyme) but is an important regulatory lncRNA with implications in cancer biology

Other names

C20orf124bA563A22B.1dJ309K20.1fer-1-like 4fer-1 like family member 4, pseudogene (functional)FER1L4

Acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate PTEN expression by sponging miR-106a-5p (and other miRNAs in different contexts)