Long intergenic non-coding RNA for kinase activation (LINC01139 (or LINK-A))

Long intergenic non-coding RNA for kinase activation (LINC01139, also known as LINK-A) is a cytoplasmic long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) with oncogenic activity, particularly implicated in triple-negative breast cancer. LINK-A interacts directly with kinases such as breast tumor kinase (BRK), leucine-rich-repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), and elements of the AKT pathway, where it facilitates kinase activation and hyperphosphorylation of downstream targets like HIF-1α. This leads to enhanced oncogenic signaling, increased cellular glycolysis (the Warburg effect), and resistance to kinase inhibitors exemplified by AKT inhibitors. LINK-A can serve as a biomarker for cancer progression and drug resistance, but it is not itself an enzyme, receptor, or conventional drug target. Instead, it acts as a molecular scaffold and regulator, with ongoing studies investigating its possible roles as a therapeutic target in cancers characterized by LINK-A/LINC01139 upregulation.

Other names

LINK-ALINKATCONS_00000027Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1139Long intergenic non-coding RNA for kinase activation

Not directly targeted by drugs; acts by facilitating kinase signaling such as AKT activation and modulating HIF-1α stability in cancer mechanisms.