Highly accelerated region 1B (non-protein coding RNA) (HAR1B)

Highly accelerated region 1B (HAR1B, also known as HAR1R) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located at 20q13.33 in the human genome. HAR1B is part of the human accelerated region 1 (HAR1) locus, which is notable for its rapid evolution in humans compared to other vertebrates, suggesting a role in human-specific traits, possibly neurodevelopment. HAR1B is expressed in the adult brain and, like its counterpart HAR1A, may have functions in neurogenesis, though details remain unclear. Recent studies have linked HAR1B expression to pazopanib sensitivity in sarcoma cell lines and tissues, where higher HAR1B levels are associated with better response to the drug, and knockdown of HAR1B leads to pazopanib resistance. The molecular function of HAR1B is not well understood, and it is not known to encode a protein. HAR1B is a relatively understudied lncRNA, but emerging evidence suggests it may have clinical relevance in oncology, particularly as a potential biomarker for drug response.

Other names

HAR1RNCRNA00065LINC00065human accelerated region 1 reversenon-protein coding RNA 65long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 65highly accelerated region 1B

Expression level of HAR1B correlates with pazopanib sensitivity in sarcoma cell lines; knockdown of HAR1B confers resistance to pazopanib, suggesting HAR1B may modulate cellular response to this drug, but exact molecular mechanism is unknown