Keratin 18 pseudogene 53 (KRT18P53)

Keratin 18 pseudogene 53 (KRT18P53) is a nonfunctional genetic sequence resembling the keratin 18 gene, classified specifically as a pseudogene within the keratin gene family. Pseudogenes are segments of DNA similar to known genes but generally lack the capacity to encode a functional protein due to mutations, deletions, or loss of regulatory elements. There is no evidence that KRT18P53 acts as a therapeutic target, biomarker, or has an established biological function. Pseudogenes like KRT18P53 are usually present as remnants of gene duplication or evolution and do not take part in protein-coding, cellular signaling, or disease mechanisms as active gene products do[5]. If your interest is in keratin 18, the functional gene (KRT18) is an intermediate filament protein important in epithelial cells, with roles in cell integrity and as a biomarker in certain cancers and liver diseases[1][3], but KRT18P53 is not biologically active.

Other names

KRT18P53