Keratin type II pseudogene

Keratin 8 pseudogene (LOC442225, ENSG00000217477) is classified as a type II keratin pseudogene[3][6]. Pseudogenes are DNA sequences similar to known genes but are nonfunctional; they do not encode active proteins due to mutations such as premature stop codons or frameshifts. This pseudogene is related by sequence to the functional keratin 8 gene (KRT8), which is a critical intermediate filament protein in simple epithelial cells, but LOC442225/ENSG00000217477 itself does not produce a functional protein and has no known biological or pharmacological function[3][6]. It is not a therapeutic target, nor is it implicated in disease or drug interactions.\n\nThe existence of keratin pseudogenes is a normal part of the keratin gene family structure in the human genome. These pseudogenes help define chromosomal regions but are not used in protein synthesis nor currently known to have a regulatory or coding function[6]. Some processed keratin pseudogenes arise through retrotransposition and represent \"dead\" copies of their parent genes[6]. This entry should **not** be considered a molecular therapeutic target, nor is there evidence it is relevant as a biomarker, drug target, or disease gene.

Other names

LOC442225ENSG00000217477