Ferritin heavy chain 1 pseudogene 23 (FTH1P23)

Ferritin heavy chain 1 pseudogene 23 (FTH1P23) is a **processed pseudogene**, meaning it is a non-functional copy of the ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) gene[1][9]. Although originally annotated as a pseudogene, studies have shown that similar pseudogenes such as FTH1P3 are **transcriptionally active** and may be **widely expressed in human tissues**, functioning at the RNA level rather than encoding a protein[7][9]. Like other ferritin heavy chain pseudogenes, FTH1P23 may possess **regulatory roles**, potentially affecting the expression and translation of the functional FTH1 gene via molecular mechanisms involving microRNAs (miRNAs) or RNA-binding proteins, especially given the presence of conserved iron-responsive element (IRE) sequences in the untranslated regions of these transcripts[7][9]. However, there is no evidence that FTH1P23 directly encodes a functional protein or serves as a typical drug target, receptor, enzyme, or transporter in therapeutic development[1][9]. Its biological roles are mainly speculative and relate to gene regulation within the ferritin gene family network rather than direct physiological or pharmacological functions.

Other names

FTH1 pseudogene 23FTH1P23Ferritin heavy polypeptide 1 pseudogene 23