Keratin pseudogene

Keratin pseudogenes, such as ENSG00000257343, are genomically encoded sequences derived from keratin genes but rendered non-functional due to disruptive mutations or absence of regulatory elements. They do not produce functional protein products. The human genome contains multiple keratin pseudogenes, both for type I and type II keratin families, interspersed among functional keratin genes. These pseudogenes are neither therapeutic drug targets nor do they play direct biological roles. Their main relevance is evolutionary, sometimes showing recent gene inactivation events when compared to functional orthologs in non-human primates. The gene ENSG00000257343 is specifically annotated as a “Keratin Pseudogene” and does not have an active protein product. Pseudogenes such as this may sometimes be referenced in evolutionary genetics or as part of structural genomic studies, but they lack protein expression and are not considered therapeutic or diagnostic targets. There is no evidence of association with disease, drug interactions, or biomarker status relevant to patient selection. This gene should not be mistaken for an active keratin involved in hair, epithelial biology, or as a druggable target. If you require keratin-related targets with clinical relevance, focus on active keratin genes or proteins, not pseudogenes.