KH domain-containing 1-like protein (KHDC1L)

KH domain-containing 1-like protein (KHDC1L) is a member of the KHDC1 family of RNA-binding proteins. Predicted to display RNA binding and identical protein binding activity, KHDC1L is primarily active in the cytoplasm[2][3]. KHDC1L is overexpressed in several cancers, notably head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, where it promotes cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis through activation of the AKT and Bcl-2 signaling pathways[1]. In addition to its apparent role in tumor cell survival, KHDC1L is also upregulated in osteoarthritis synovial tissue, where it promotes synovial cell proliferation. Tissue expression data suggest highest KHDC1L mRNA levels in testis, placenta, lung, and brain, and single-cell clustering highlights enrichment in sperm cells, suggesting possible roles in reproductive biology[1]. Disease associations include cancer and non-malignant conditions such as osteoarthritis, but the direct clinical or drug-targeting applications for KHDC1L remain nascent. No direct small-molecule or biological drug ligands are currently reported for KHDC1L[2].

Other names

KHDC1LKHDC1-like proteinRP11-257K9.7putative KHDC1-like proteinKH homology domain containing 1-like