Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1137 (LITATS1)

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1137 (LITATS1) is a long non-coding RNA identified as a direct target gene of TGF-beta/SMAD signaling. It acts as a protective gatekeeper in epithelial cells, antagonizing TGF-beta-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and maintaining epithelial integrity. Mechanistically, LITATS1 facilitates the polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the TGF-beta type I receptor (TβRI) by serving as a scaffold that stabilizes the interaction between TβRI and the E3 ligase SMURF2, thereby attenuating TGF-beta/SMAD signaling. LITATS1 expression is reduced in several cancers including lung adenocarcinoma, with higher levels correlating to a favorable prognosis. While important in the negative regulation of a major cancer-related pathway, LITATS1 is not currently classified as a traditional therapeutic "target" like a receptor or enzyme, since it is itself a regulatory RNA molecule rather than a protein that can be targeted by small molecules or biologics[1][2][3]

Other names

LINC01137ZC3H12A-DTLOC728431ZC3H12A divergent transcriptLITATS1

Not directly targeted by drugs; however, knockdown or depletion of LITATS1 enhances TGF-beta/SMAD signaling, while overexpression inhibits it by facilitating the degradation of TGF-beta type I receptor[1][2][3]